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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 120 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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. sharp — clever
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. plane — a tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. can — to be able to
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bear — the animal
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. bear — the animal
  24. safe — a strongbox

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