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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. stock — goods
  4. current — happening now
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. drill — the tool
  7. mate — to breed
  8. mate — a friend
  9. suit — clothes
  10. rash — hasty
  11. current — electric
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. suit — in cards
  14. stock — shares
  15. drill — army training
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. suit — to fit
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. mate — a partner
  20. bore — to drill
  21. drill — a practice
  22. current — of water
  23. rash — a series
  24. bore — to tire

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