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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. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. content — the amount
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. plane — a tool
  7. rock — music
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. rock — a stone
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pound — a weight
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. content — happy
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. leaves — to go away

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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