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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. plane — a tool
  11. capital — a city
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bore — to tire
  14. capital — a big letter
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. rock — music
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. scale — size or range
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. scale — in music

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