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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 124 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. lean — thin
  3. fine — high quality
  4. branch — a division
  5. saw — the tool
  6. fine — all right
  7. tube — a container
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. plane — a tool
  11. current — happening now
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. tube — the underground
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. lean — to bend
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. current — electric
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. current — of water
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. saw — the tool
  24. tube — in a tire

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