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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. plane — a tool
  4. mate — a partner
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bank — for money
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bank — for money
  9. bank — of a river
  10. race — humankind
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. rock — music
  14. mark — a grade
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mate — to breed
  17. mark — a trace
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. race — a contest
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. race — the arms race
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. mouse — the animal

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