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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. content — happy
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. plane — a tool
  5. pass — a permit
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. can — to be able to
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. current — electric
  12. stand — to bear
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. can — a tin
  15. current — of water
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. can — a tin
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. current — happening now
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. content — the amount
  24. pass — to succeed

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