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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. stock — shares
  5. plane — a tool
  6. land — a country
  7. wound — an injury
  8. fork — in a road
  9. land — to come down
  10. file — a tool
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. wound — an injury
  14. file — a line of people
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. land — ground
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. file — a document
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stock — goods
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fork — to eat with

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