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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bulb — for light
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. hand — in cards
  10. toast — bread
  11. hand — help
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. last — final
  14. last — finally
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bore — to tire
  17. land — ground
  18. plane — a tool
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bore — to drill
  21. land — to come down
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. land — a country
  24. last — to go on

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