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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. plane — a tool
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. track — to keep track
  6. rash — hasty
  7. track — a song
  8. lie — to recline
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. scale — in music
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. pop — to visit
  19. pop — soda
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. pop — music
  23. rash — a series
  24. track — a path

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