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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 120 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 want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. current — happening now
  6. drill — the tool
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. fine — high quality
  12. current — of water
  13. drill — a practice
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. plane — a tool
  17. tube — the underground
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. drill — army training
  20. pitch — completely
  21. fine — all right
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. current — electric

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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