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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. deal — to handle
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. current — happening now
  5. land — ground
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. land — a country
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. ground — a position
  10. ground — the earth
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. bore — to tire
  13. current — electric
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. ground — crushed
  16. land — to come down
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bore — to drill
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. plane — a tool
  21. current — of water
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bulb — for light

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