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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. fall — to drop
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. key — the most important part
  5. march — music
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. fall — the season
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. key — for a lock
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. rash — hasty
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rash — a series
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. plane — a tool
  18. march — the month
  19. key — in music
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. fall — to drop
  24. march — the month

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