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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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. plane — a tool
  3. net — for catching
  4. suit — in cards
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. net — in sport
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. shower — to wash
  10. prune — to trim
  11. suit — to fit
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. dip — to sink
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. prune — to trim
  22. net — after costs
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. suit — clothes

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