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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. scale — size or range
  6. club — a group
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. current — electric
  9. scale — in music
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. rock — music
  12. pit — in a race
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. rock — a stone
  15. current — of water
  16. prune — to trim
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. plane — a tool
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. prune — to trim
  21. current — happening now
  22. club — for dancing
  23. club — for golf
  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