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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. object — an aim
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. current — of water
  11. deal — to handle
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. pass — a permit
  16. plane — a tool
  17. object — to protest
  18. object — a thing
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. current — happening now
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. current — electric

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