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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. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. ball — a dance
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. charge — in control
  10. plane — a tool
  11. chip — for betting
  12. season — in sport
  13. ball — a great time
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. chip — to eat
  17. craft — a skill
  18. charge — a price
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. season — of the year
  21. charge — electricity
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. wax — to grow

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