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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. net — in sport
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rush — hurry
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. present — a gift
  9. net — for catching
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. net — after costs
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. plane — a tool
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. toast — bread
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. present — there
  24. present — the time now

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