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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. pop — music
  4. plane — a tool
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. pass — a permit
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. stock — shares
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ground — a position
  11. mug — a face
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. mug — a cup
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. mug — to rob
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stock — goods
  21. ground — crushed
  22. pop — to visit
  23. ground — the earth
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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