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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. row — to paddle
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. spell — letters
  5. key — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. mark — a grade
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. plane — a tool
  13. key — for a lock
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. row — a line
  17. spring — a coil
  18. mark — a trace
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. spell — a short time
  21. spring — the season
  22. spell — magic
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. spring — of water

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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