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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 potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. chip — to eat
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. bass — low music
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bore — to drill
  7. wax — to grow
  8. net — in sport
  9. plane — a tool
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. net — for catching
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. chip — for betting
  16. net — after costs
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bore — to tire
  22. bass — the fish
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. temple — side of the head

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