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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. spell — magic
  3. rush — hurry
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. present — a gift
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. spell — letters
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. present — the time now
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. stand — to bear
  19. present — there
  20. mine — for digging
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. plane — a tool
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. stand — on your feet

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