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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. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. mug — a cup
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. capital — a city
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — a tool
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. cue — a signal
  10. mug — to rob
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. capital — money
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. cue — for pool
  16. lean — thin
  17. wake — a trail
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. mug — a face
  22. date — the fruit
  23. lean — to bend
  24. cue — a hint

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