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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 116 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. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. mate — a partner
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. suit — clothes
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rush — hurry
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. suit — in cards
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — a permit
  12. mine — for digging
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. suit — to fit
  19. mate — to breed
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. plane — a tool
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. mate — a friend

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