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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. wound — an injury
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. mug — a face
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. mate — to breed
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. mug — to rob
  14. spell — a short time
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. spell — letters
  18. plane — a tool
  19. mate — a friend
  20. wound — an injury
  21. wax — to grow
  22. mate — a partner
  23. spell — magic
  24. deal — to handle

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