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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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. ball — a dance
  5. spring — a coil
  6. season — in sport
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. ball — a great time
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. spring — of water
  13. plane — a tool
  14. spring — the season
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. dip — to sink
  18. bear — the animal
  19. season — of the year
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bear — the animal
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. safe — out of danger

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