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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. rash — a series
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. season — of the year
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. can — a tin
  9. season — in sport
  10. drill — army training
  11. plane — a tool
  12. can — a tin
  13. bound — obliged
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. bound — tied together
  16. drill — the tool
  17. object — a thing
  18. rash — hasty
  19. object — to protest
  20. drill — a practice
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. object — an aim
  24. can — to be able to

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