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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 120 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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. bound — tied together
  4. cue — for pool
  5. stock — goods
  6. cue — a signal
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. object — an aim
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. plane — a tool
  11. bear — the animal
  12. stem — to come from
  13. object — to protest
  14. bound — obliged
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. stock — shares
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. object — a thing
  19. bear — the animal
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. cue — a hint
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. bound — certain

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