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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. plane — a tool
  3. present — the time now
  4. mark — a trace
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. can — to be able to
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. present — a gift
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. can — a tin
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. ball — a great time
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. present — there

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