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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. toast — bread
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. chip — to eat
  6. chip — for betting
  7. net — in sport
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. net — for catching
  13. mine — for digging
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. plane — a tool
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. net — after costs
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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