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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. stock — shares
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. charge — electricity
  5. dip — to sink
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. charge — a price
  8. stock — goods
  9. plane — a tool
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. rush — hurry
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. charge — in control
  19. snap — to click
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. wave — of the sea

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