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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 116 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. squash — the sport
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. squash — to crush
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. season — in sport
  13. sharp — clever
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. plane — a tool
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mine — for digging
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. season — of the year
  24. mark — a trace

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