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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. mark — a trace
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. degree — an amount
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. degree — from a university
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mate — to breed
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. mate — a partner
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. mark — a grade
  20. plane — a tool
  21. mate — a friend
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. degree — temperature
  24. racket — a loud noise

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