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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: plane · charge · patient · sharp · mark · board · bulb · racket

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. bulb — for light
  4. sharp — clever
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. bulb — for light
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. board — a committee
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. plane — a tool
  12. charge — a price
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. charge — in control
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. mark — a grade
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. charge — electricity
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  24. board — to get on

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com