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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. current — of water
  4. bear — the animal
  5. pit — a hole
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. wound — an injury
  8. ball — a great time
  9. current — happening now
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bear — the animal
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. plane — a tool
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. drill — a practice
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. drill — the tool
  19. current — electric
  20. drill — army training
  21. wound — an injury
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. ball — a round shape

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