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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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. cue — a signal
  3. roll — a cake
  4. perch — the fish
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. rush — hurry
  8. staff — employees
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bulb — for light
  13. roll — a list
  14. bulb — for light
  15. plane — a tool
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. staff — a stick
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. cue — a hint
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. staff — employees
  23. cue — for pool
  24. lash — an eyelash

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