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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. board — to get on
  6. rush — hurry
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. charge — a price
  10. charge — in control
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. saw — the tool
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. plane — a tool
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. board — a committee
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. charge — electricity

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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