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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. spell — magic
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. spell — letters
  6. spell — a short time
  7. chip — to eat
  8. fine — all right
  9. pound — a weight
  10. plane — a tool
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. chip — for betting
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. fine — high quality
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. row — a line
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. chip — in a computer

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