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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. staff — employees
  4. land — a country
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. staff — a stick
  7. last — final
  8. charge — in control
  9. track — to keep track
  10. track — a path
  11. last — finally
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. charge — electricity
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. track — a song
  16. land — to come down
  17. plane — a tool
  18. last — to go on
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. charge — a price
  21. land — ground
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. coach — a trainer

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