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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. charge — in control
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. wound — an injury
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. row — to paddle
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. net — in sport
  9. bank — of a river
  10. net — after costs
  11. charge — a price
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. bank — for money
  14. tube — the underground
  15. staff — a stick
  16. tube — a container
  17. row — a line
  18. staff — employees
  19. net — for catching
  20. bank — for money
  21. staff — employees
  22. charge — electricity
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. wound — an injury

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