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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. rock — music
  4. suit — to fit
  5. net — for catching
  6. rock — a stone
  7. tube — a container
  8. track — to keep track
  9. plane — a tool
  10. track — a path
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. tube — the underground
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. suit — in cards
  18. track — a song
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — a permit
  22. net — after costs
  23. net — in sport
  24. suit — clothes

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