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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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. plane — a tool
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. can — to be able to
  5. stock — goods
  6. can — a tin
  7. hand — help
  8. bass — the fish
  9. pass — a permit
  10. mark — a grade
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mate — a friend
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. hand — in cards
  16. stock — shares
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. can — a tin
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bass — low music
  23. mate — a partner
  24. plane — an aircraft

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