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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 116 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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rock — music
  5. bound — obliged
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. rock — a stone
  9. root — of a word
  10. bound — certain
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. root — of a plant
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. plane — a tool
  22. root — the cause
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bound — tied together

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