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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. track — to keep track
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. fork — in a road
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. deal — to handle
  11. lie — to recline
  12. track — a path
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. track — a song
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. court — of a king
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. court — for sport
  24. court — of law

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