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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. rash — a series
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. rash — hasty
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. firm — decided
  7. firm — steady
  8. sharp — clever
  9. cell — in biology
  10. net — in sport
  11. spell — letters
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. fine — all right
  14. net — after costs
  15. firm — a company
  16. cell — a phone
  17. plane — a tool
  18. fine — high quality
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. spell — magic
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. spell — a short time
  24. net — for catching

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