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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The water is too ________________.
  5. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. cold — not warm
  5. cold — an illness
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. suit — to fit
  8. lean — to bend
  9. lean — thin
  10. fine — high quality
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. pit — a hole
  19. suit — in cards
  20. plane — a tool
  21. fine — all right
  22. cold — the Cold War
  23. suit — clothes
  24. pit — in a race

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