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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 ________________ took off on time.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. spell — a short time
  3. bulb — for light
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. spell — magic
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. bank — of a river
  8. pop — music
  9. bulb — for light
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. pop — to visit
  12. object — a thing
  13. bank — for money
  14. plane — a tool
  15. object — an aim
  16. net — in sport
  17. net — after costs
  18. bank — for money
  19. spell — letters
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. object — to protest
  22. net — for catching
  23. pitch — completely
  24. pop — soda

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