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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 120 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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. track — to keep track
  3. plane — a tool
  4. stand — to bear
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. bark — to shout
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. ground — a position
  13. pitch — completely
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. track — a path
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ground — crushed
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. track — a song
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. ground — the earth
  24. stand — on your feet

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