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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. can — a tin
  3. bear — the animal
  4. key — the most important part
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. land — a country
  8. key — in music
  9. plane — a tool
  10. spell — letters
  11. land — to come down
  12. bass — low music
  13. spell — magic
  14. bear — the animal
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. key — for a lock
  20. land — ground
  21. spell — a short time
  22. bass — the fish
  23. season — in sport
  24. season — of the year

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