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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 124 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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. date — the fruit
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. charge — a price
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. plane — a tool
  10. rest — what's left
  11. charge — in control
  12. bear — the animal
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. lie — to recline
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. rest — a break
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. band — a ring
  22. bear — the animal
  23. charge — electricity
  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