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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. pit — a hole
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. plane — a tool
  5. current — happening now
  6. scale — size or range
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. mark — a grade
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. mine — for digging
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. toast — bread
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. current — electric
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. pit — in a race
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. current — of water
  24. scale — in music

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