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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.

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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. plane — a tool
  3. swing — music
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. bulb — for light
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. mine — for digging
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. track — a song
  15. swing — to play on
  16. fine — high quality
  17. track — to keep track
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. swing — in golf
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fine — all right
  22. bass — low music
  23. rush — hurry
  24. track — a path

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