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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. plane — a tool
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. bound — obliged
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. cue — a signal
  7. staff — employees
  8. cue — a hint
  9. degree — an amount
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bound — certain
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. wind — moving air
  14. degree — temperature
  15. degree — from a university
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. staff — a stick
  19. bound — tied together
  20. cue — for pool
  21. wind — moving air
  22. staff — employees
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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