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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. bank — of a river
  5. plane — a tool
  6. toast — bread
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. swing — to play on
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. mate — to breed
  11. squash — the sport
  12. squash — to crush
  13. mate — a partner
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. swing — music
  16. bank — for money
  17. can — a tin
  18. mate — a friend
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. can — a tin
  23. bank — for money
  24. swing — in golf

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