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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bore — to tire
  4. squash — the sport
  5. spring — of water
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. march — the month
  8. march — the month
  9. suit — to fit
  10. suit — in cards
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. suit — clothes
  15. plane — a tool
  16. ball — a dance
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ball — a great time
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. squash — to crush
  22. march — music
  23. spring — the season
  24. bore — to drill

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