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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 120 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 got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. plane — a tool
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. bore — to tire
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mate — to breed
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mate — a friend
  12. mark — a trace
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. lie — to recline
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. stock — shares
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. wound — an injury
  20. stock — goods
  21. wound — an injury
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bore — to drill

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