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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 120 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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. rule — a law
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. craft — boats
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. craft — a skill
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. foot — a measure
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. rule — government
  16. spell — magic
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. spell — a short time
  19. stand — to bear
  20. plane — a tool
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. spell — letters
  23. bark — to shout
  24. rule — to rule out

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