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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 120 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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. ground — a position
  5. plane — a tool
  6. mark — a trace
  7. rock — music
  8. wake — a trail
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. ground — the earth
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. scale — in music
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. scale — size or range
  18. ground — crushed
  19. mark — a grade
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. mine — for digging
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. plane — an aircraft

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