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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. perch — the fish
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. degree — an amount
  7. spell — letters
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. plane — a tool
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. board — to get on
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. degree — temperature
  15. spell — magic
  16. degree — from a university
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. board — a committee
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. spell — a short time
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. bulb — for light

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