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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. plane — a tool
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. net — after costs
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rash — hasty
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. rock — music
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — in sport
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pitch — completely

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