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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. plane — a tool
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. charge — a price
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pass — a permit
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. tube — the underground
  9. charge — electricity
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. chip — for betting
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. chip — to eat
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. lie — to recline
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. charge — in control
  24. tube — a container

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