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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. wax — to grow
  13. rock — music
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. rush — hurry
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. firm — steady
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. firm — a company
  22. firm — decided
  23. plane — a tool
  24. rush — a thrill

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