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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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. squash — to crush
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. plane — a tool
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. pass — a permit
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. squash — the sport
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. deal — to handle

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