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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. plane — a tool
  3. pop — music
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. bank — for money
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. pop — soda
  8. bank — for money
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. toast — bread
  17. capital — a big letter
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. bank — of a river
  21. capital — a city
  22. pop — to visit
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. wave — with your hand

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