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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 teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. mine — for digging
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. plane — a tool
  10. cue — a signal
  11. bank — for money
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. roll — a cake
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. cue — a hint
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rock — music
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — of a river
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. rock — a stone
  24. cue — for pool

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