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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. charge — a price
  8. net — for catching
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. charge — electricity
  11. plane — a tool
  12. mug — a face
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. charge — in control
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. mine — for digging
  17. net — in sport
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mug — to rob
  22. perch — the fish
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. net — after costs

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