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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. stem — to come from
  4. wound — an injury
  5. bound — obliged
  6. file — a document
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. file — a tool
  9. bound — certain
  10. file — a line of people
  11. key — the most important part
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. bound — tied together
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. key — for a lock
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. key — in music
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. plane — a tool

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