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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 116 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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. fine — high quality
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. saw — the tool
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. snap — to click
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. cell — in biology
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. sharp — clever
  15. plane — a tool
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. saw — the tool
  20. cell — a phone
  21. fine — all right
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. leaves — lets stay

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