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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. dip — to sink
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. plane — a tool
  6. land — to come down
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. ground — crushed
  9. ground — the earth
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. toast — bread
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. land — a country
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. ground — a position
  19. suit — to fit
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. land — ground
  24. suit — in cards

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