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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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. spring — of water
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. key — for a lock
  6. key — the most important part
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. key — in music
  12. deal — to handle
  13. pass — a permit
  14. plane — a tool
  15. spring — the season
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. wax — to grow
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. spring — a coil

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