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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've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. scale — in music
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. tube — the underground
  7. scale — size or range
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. spell — magic
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. spell — letters
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. tube — a container
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. bear — the animal
  19. plane — a tool
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bear — the animal
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — a jug

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