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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. pop — soda
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. pop — to visit
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. tube — a container
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pop — music
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. tube — the underground
  18. calf — a young animal

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