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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. root — the cause
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mine — for digging
  11. suit — in cards
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. root — of a word
  15. sharp — clever
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. root — of a plant
  18. net — in sport
  19. suit — to fit
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. plane — a tool
  22. net — after costs
  23. suit — clothes
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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