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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. mate — a partner
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. fine — all right
  6. mate — to breed
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rock — a stone
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. mate — a friend
  19. fine — high quality
  20. rock — music
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. wax — to grow
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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