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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. bear — the animal
  3. firm — decided
  4. firm — steady
  5. plane — a tool
  6. firm — a company
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. dip — to dunk
  10. spring — of water
  11. rush — hurry
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. last — final
  15. last — finally
  16. dip — to sink
  17. spring — a coil
  18. spring — the season
  19. bear — the animal
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. last — to go on
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. trunk — of a tree

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