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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. game — a match
  5. plane — a tool
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. march — the month
  12. toast — bread
  13. march — music
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. march — the month
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. game — wild animals
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. wave — of the sea

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