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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. cell — a phone
  3. charge — electricity
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. court — of a king
  7. court — for sport
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. charge — in control
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. cell — in biology
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. charge — a price
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. rock — a stone
  18. court — of law
  19. pass — a permit
  20. chip — to eat
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rock — music
  23. chip — for betting
  24. cell — in a prison

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