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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. track — a path
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. plane — a tool
  6. net — for catching
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. track — to keep track
  9. snap — to click
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. net — after costs
  16. net — in sport
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. staff — employees
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. staff — employees
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — a stone
  23. staff — a stick
  24. temple — a place of worship

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