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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. press — newspapers
  4. game — a match
  5. game — wild animals
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. firm — steady
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. lie — to recline
  12. firm — decided
  13. wound — an injury
  14. press — to push
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. wound — an injury
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. press — a publisher
  23. firm — a company
  24. game — a kind of play

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