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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. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — a grade
  9. pass — a permit
  10. stock — shares
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. snap — to snap out of it
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. mug — to rob
  18. plane — a tool
  19. stock — goods
  20. squash — the sport
  21. squash — to crush
  22. mug — a cup
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. mug — a face

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