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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. land — a country
  3. land — to come down
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. charge — electricity
  8. charge — in control
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. court — of law
  11. court — of a king
  12. rock — a stone
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. court — for sport
  20. rock — music
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. land — ground
  23. charge — a price
  24. rock — to move gently

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