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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. can — a tin
  3. fine — high quality
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. spell — a short time
  6. drill — a practice
  7. fine — all right
  8. plane — a tool
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. rush — hurry
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. can — a tin
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. spell — letters
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. drill — the tool
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. spell — magic
  20. wax — to grow
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. drill — army training
  23. mark — a grade
  24. can — to be able to

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