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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.

Make a worksheet

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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  19. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. can — a tin
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. net — for catching
  6. plane — a tool
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. degree — temperature
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. wound — an injury
  11. key — the most important part
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — after costs
  14. wind — moving air
  15. degree — an amount
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. wound — an injury
  18. degree — from a university
  19. wind — moving air
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. key — in music
  24. key — for a lock

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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