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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 hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bore — to tire
  3. plane — a tool
  4. face — to confront
  5. bore — to drill
  6. club — for dancing
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. charge — a price
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. face — part of the head
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. spell — a short time
  15. face — to point toward
  16. spell — magic
  17. charge — electricity
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. mark — a grade
  20. spell — letters
  21. club — for golf
  22. club — a group
  23. charge — in control
  24. plane — an aircraft

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