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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. spell — a short time
  4. land — a country
  5. charge — in control
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. land — ground
  9. dip — to sink
  10. spell — magic
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. charge — a price
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bulb — for light
  15. race — the arms race
  16. spell — letters
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. race — humankind
  19. land — to come down
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. bulb — for light
  22. charge — electricity
  23. race — a contest
  24. plane — a tool

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