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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. bound — obliged
  3. snap — to click
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. plane — a tool
  6. suit — clothes
  7. root — of a word
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bound — tied together
  11. root — the cause
  12. net — for catching
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. track — to keep track
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. suit — in cards
  17. track — a path
  18. net — in sport
  19. root — of a plant
  20. bound — certain
  21. track — a song
  22. net — after costs
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — hurry

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