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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. ground — crushed
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. plane — a tool
  9. scale — in music
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. ground — the earth
  12. vault — a safe
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. rash — hasty
  15. face — part of the head
  16. rash — a series
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. bear — the animal
  19. scale — size or range
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. face — to confront
  22. ground — a position
  23. face — to point toward
  24. bear — the animal

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