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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. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. plane — a tool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. object — an aim
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. spring — the season
  9. current — happening now
  10. spring — a coil
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. game — wild animals
  14. current — electric
  15. deal — to handle
  16. pass — a permit
  17. object — a thing
  18. object — to protest
  19. game — a match
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. current — of water

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