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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. season — of the year
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. fine — all right
  7. bore — to drill
  8. suit — to fit
  9. fine — high quality
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. suit — clothes
  12. net — after costs
  13. squash — the sport
  14. squash — to crush
  15. net — in sport
  16. net — for catching
  17. bore — to tire
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. plane — a tool
  22. season — in sport
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. squash — the vegetable

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