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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. mate — a friend
  5. swing — music
  6. bore — to drill
  7. cue — a signal
  8. mate — a partner
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. swing — to play on
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. lean — to bend
  14. mate — to breed
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. lean — thin
  17. saw — the tool
  18. cue — for pool
  19. bore — to tire
  20. swing — in golf
  21. cue — a hint
  22. season — of the year
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. season — in sport

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