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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. deal — to handle
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. file — a document
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bulb — for light
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. snap — to click
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. file — a line of people
  23. plane — a tool
  24. leaves — to go away

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