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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — a tool
  3. mate — to breed
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. track — a song
  6. track — to keep track
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. track — a path
  10. rest — what's left
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. rest — a break
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. mate — a partner
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. rest — what's left
  19. mine — for digging
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. mate — a friend
  23. wake — a trail
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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