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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. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. pit — in a race
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. spell — a short time
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. spell — letters
  12. pit — a hole
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. lie — to recline
  16. tube — the underground
  17. spell — magic
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. club — for dancing
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. tube — a container
  22. club — for golf
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fan — a supporter

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