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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. net — for catching
  4. bank — for money
  5. roll — a cake
  6. charge — in control
  7. bank — of a river
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. charge — a price
  10. snap — to click
  11. hand — help
  12. staff — a stick
  13. charge — electricity
  14. staff — employees
  15. bank — for money
  16. hand — in cards
  17. net — in sport
  18. plane — a tool
  19. net — after costs
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. roll — a list
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. staff — employees

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