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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. bear — the animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rock — a stone
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. snap — to click
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. hand — help
  16. rest — a break
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. plane — a tool
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. rock — music
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. hand — in cards
  24. rest — what's left

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