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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. plane — a tool
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. staff — a stick
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. staff — employees
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. staff — employees
  13. chair — a leader
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. mark — a trace
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. foot — a measure
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. cabinet — ministers

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