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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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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: land · pit · mate · wave · rash · sharp · plane · mark

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. mate — a friend
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. land — ground
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. pit — in a race
  9. mark — a trace
  10. sharp — clever
  11. rash — hasty
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. pit — a hole
  15. mark — a grade
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. mate — a partner
  19. land — to come down
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. rash — a series
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. land — a country
  24. mate — to breed

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