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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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. fine — high quality
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. cue — a signal
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. fine — all right
  9. cue — a hint
  10. track — a path
  11. charge — in control
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cue — for pool
  14. plane — a tool
  15. sharp — clever
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bulb — for light
  19. charge — a price
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. track — a song
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. track — to keep track

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