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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 sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. mug — to rob
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. mug — a cup
  5. current — happening now
  6. mug — a face
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. plane — a tool
  16. pass — a permit
  17. chair — a professorship
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. current — of water
  20. fine — high quality
  21. chair — a leader
  22. current — electric
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. fine — all right

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