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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. court — of law
  3. court — of a king
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. plane — a tool
  10. ball — a great time
  11. cell — a phone
  12. bore — to tire
  13. suit — clothes
  14. suit — to fit
  15. cell — in biology
  16. bore — to drill
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. court — for sport
  19. ball — a dance
  20. toast — bread
  21. rash — a series
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. rash — hasty
  24. rash — on the skin

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