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

Word bank: dip · rush · last · rule · plane · rock · snap · staff

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. staff — employees
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. rock — a stone
  6. snap — to click
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. plane — a tool
  10. rush — hurry
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. last — final
  14. rock — music
  15. rule — a law
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rule — government
  18. dip — to sink
  19. last — to go on
  20. staff — employees
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. staff — a stick
  23. last — finally
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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