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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. pit — a hole
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. plane — a tool
  6. pop — to visit
  7. suit — in cards
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. pit — in a race
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. pop — music
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. cue — for pool
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. suit — clothes
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. cue — a hint
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. suit — to fit
  23. pop — soda
  24. cue — a signal

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