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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: safe · deal · land · plane · wake · jam · arm · clip

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. deal — to handle
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. clip — a video
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. clip — to cut
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. wake — a trail
  15. land — to come down
  16. plane — a tool
  17. land — a country
  18. land — ground
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. clip — for paper
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. wake — before a funeral

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