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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. chair — a leader
  3. track — a song
  4. staff — employees
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. bank — for money
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. track — to keep track
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. track — a path
  14. stock — goods
  15. staff — a stick
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. plane — a tool
  18. stock — shares
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bank — for money
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bank — of a river
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. staff — employees

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