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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 116 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 girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. object — an aim
  6. row — to paddle
  7. object — a thing
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bear — the animal
  10. object — to protest
  11. bulb — for light
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. plane — a tool
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. deal — to handle
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bulb — for light

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