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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. rush — hurry
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. race — a contest
  5. cue — a signal
  6. clip — a video
  7. race — humankind
  8. plane — a tool
  9. cue — a hint
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. saw — the tool
  12. clip — for paper
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. suit — clothes
  16. saw — the tool
  17. suit — to fit
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. suit — in cards
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. cue — for pool
  23. lie — to recline
  24. clip — to cut

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