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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. spell — letters
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. charge — in control
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. spell — magic
  8. march — music
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. fine — all right
  12. staff — employees
  13. spell — a short time
  14. staff — a stick
  15. craft — a skill
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. craft — boats
  18. charge — a price
  19. plane — a tool
  20. charge — electricity
  21. march — the month
  22. fine — high quality
  23. leaves — lets stay
  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