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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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bank — for money
  4. game — wild animals
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. plane — a tool
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bulb — for light
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. stock — shares
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. stock — goods
  22. bank — for money
  23. bulb — for light
  24. game — a match

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