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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. object — an aim
  3. wax — to grow
  4. current — of water
  5. object — a thing
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. game — a match
  8. bass — the fish
  9. plane — a tool
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. game — wild animals
  15. pitch — completely
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bass — low music
  19. bulb — for light
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. object — to protest
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. current — electric
  24. current — happening now

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