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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. scale — size or range
  5. lean — to bend
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. plane — a tool
  10. lean — thin
  11. rock — music
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. scale — in music
  15. charge — electricity
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. charge — in control
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. rock — a stone
  21. charge — a price
  22. mark — a grade
  23. mark — a trace
  24. lean — to rest against

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