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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. plane — a tool
  3. bore — to drill
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. land — to come down
  9. saw — the tool
  10. land — a country
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. wax — to grow
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bore — to tire
  16. land — ground
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. scale — size or range
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. saw — the 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