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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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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: suit · plane · sharp · rush · wound · deal · shower · temple

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. shower — to wash
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. suit — to fit
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. sharp — clever
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. wound — an injury
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. plane — a tool
  15. wound — an injury
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. rush — hurry
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. suit — clothes
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. deal — to handle
  22. shower — rain
  23. suit — in cards
  24. rush — a thrill

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