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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 116 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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. current — of water
  3. bulb — for light
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. bulb — for light
  9. face — to confront
  10. bear — the animal
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. mate — to breed
  14. face — to point toward
  15. current — electric
  16. mate — a partner
  17. face — part of the head
  18. plane — a tool
  19. mate — a friend
  20. current — happening now
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. dip — to sink
  24. bulb — of a plant

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