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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 120 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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. plane — a tool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. land — a country
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. land — to come down
  10. land — ground
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. charge — electricity
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. charge — in control
  24. charge — a price

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