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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. stock — goods
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. race — a contest
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. stock — shares
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. race — humankind
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. roll — a cake
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. pass — a permit
  20. kick — in football
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. race — the arms race
  23. roll — a list
  24. roll — on a roll

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