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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. march — music
  3. pop — soda
  4. pop — music
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. pop — to visit
  7. key — in music
  8. march — the month
  9. shower — rain
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. rule — a law
  13. rule — government
  14. current — of water
  15. key — for a lock
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. march — the month
  18. current — happening now
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. shower — to wash
  22. bear — the animal
  23. key — the most important part
  24. current — electric

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