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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. toast — bread
  3. firm — a company
  4. squash — to crush
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. firm — steady
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. pound — for dogs
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. chest — of your body
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. chest — of your body
  14. chest — a box
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. plane — a tool
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. squash — the sport
  22. firm — decided
  23. pound — a weight
  24. toast — the most admired

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