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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. cue — a signal
  4. charge — a price
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. cue — for pool
  9. plane — a tool
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. pop — soda
  16. charge — electricity
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. foot — a measure
  19. pop — to visit
  20. pop — music
  21. cue — a hint
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. plane — in geometry

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