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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. content — the amount
  6. bound — certain
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. content — happy
  11. plane — a tool
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bound — obliged
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bound — tied together
  20. date — the fruit
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. mark — a trace
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. plane — an aircraft

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