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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.

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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. saw — the tool
  6. root — the cause
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. march — music
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. root — of a plant
  16. mine — for digging
  17. march — the month
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. march — the month
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. root — of a word

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