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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. saw — the tool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bound — tied together
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bound — obliged
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. rush — hurry
  20. plane — a tool
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bound — certain
  24. lash — to lash out

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