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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. court — of law
  9. court — of a king
  10. fine — high quality
  11. rush — hurry
  12. spring — the season
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. season — in sport
  15. spring — a coil
  16. lie — to recline
  17. spring — of water
  18. fine — all right
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. court — for sport
  21. season — of the year
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. plane — a tool

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