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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. wound — an injury
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. rash — a series
  7. bound — certain
  8. key — the most important part
  9. rash — hasty
  10. hand — in cards
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. plane — a tool
  15. current — of water
  16. bound — tied together
  17. current — happening now
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. bound — obliged
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. wound — an injury
  22. current — electric
  23. hand — help
  24. plane — an aircraft

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