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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's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. mate — a friend
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. mate — to breed
  5. suit — clothes
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. plane — a tool
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. suit — to fit
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. bass — low music
  15. date — the fruit
  16. suit — in cards
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. mug — a face
  19. mug — a cup
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bass — the fish
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mug — to rob

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