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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. bound — certain
  5. rock — a stone
  6. plane — a tool
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. wind — moving air
  9. bound — tied together
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — the tool
  13. wind — moving air
  14. suit — in cards
  15. bound — obliged
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. suit — to fit
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. wind — to turn a key
  20. suit — clothes
  21. foot — a measure
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. rock — music
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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