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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. suit — clothes
  3. kick — in football
  4. bound — tied together
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. suit — in cards
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. branch — a division
  12. suit — to fit
  13. plane — a tool
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. cue — for pool
  17. saw — the tool
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. bound — obliged
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cue — a signal
  24. bound — certain

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