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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. plane — a tool
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. net — in sport
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. rest — what's left
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. net — for catching
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. net — after costs
  15. pitch — completely
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. rest — a break
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. tear — from crying
  22. tear — to rip
  23. rest — what's left
  24. tear — from crying

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