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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. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. root — of a plant
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bear — the animal
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. march — the month
  10. march — music
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. root — the cause
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bear — the animal
  17. root — of a word
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pound — a weight
  21. mark — a grade
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. plane — a tool
  24. march — the month

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