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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: clip · ground · chip · squash · bulb · safe · hide · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. ground — a position
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. clip — to cut
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. chip — to eat
  7. squash — to crush
  8. clip — for paper
  9. bulb — for light
  10. plane — a tool
  11. ground — crushed
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. clip — a video
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. bulb — for light
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. squash — the sport
  22. chip — for betting
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. ground — the earth

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