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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 120 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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. staff — employees
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. deal — to handle
  5. charge — electricity
  6. plane — a tool
  7. net — after costs
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. net — for catching
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. staff — a stick
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. net — in sport
  14. pit — a hole
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. drill — army training
  17. drill — a practice
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. drill — the tool
  20. charge — in control
  21. foot — a measure
  22. pit — in a race
  23. charge — a price
  24. staff — employees

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