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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. current — of water
  3. mate — to breed
  4. saw — the tool
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. current — electric
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. plane — a tool
  11. prune — to trim
  12. tube — the underground
  13. mug — to rob
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. mug — a cup
  16. current — happening now
  17. saw — the tool
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. mate — a friend
  20. mug — a face
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. prune — to trim
  23. foot — a measure
  24. mate — a partner

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