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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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. plane — a tool
  3. staff — employees
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. staff — employees
  6. cue — for pool
  7. mug — to rob
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. shower — rain
  10. prune — to trim
  11. staff — a stick
  12. pop — to visit
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. prune — to trim
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. cue — a signal
  17. mug — a face
  18. pop — music
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. pop — soda
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. shower — to wash
  23. cue — a hint
  24. mug — a cup

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