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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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. can — a tin
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. firm — decided
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. firm — steady
  14. firm — a company
  15. sharp — clever
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. tube — a container
  18. tube — the underground
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. branch — a division
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. mine — for digging
  24. mine — an explosive

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