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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. charge — electricity
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. plane — a tool
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. charge — in control
  10. mark — a trace
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. dip — to sink
  13. spell — magic
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. season — of the year
  17. season — in sport
  18. spell — a short time
  19. spell — letters
  20. charge — a price
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a dance
  24. fork — in a road

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