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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. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. race — the arms race
  3. file — a document
  4. season — of the year
  5. file — a line of people
  6. race — humankind
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. file — a tool
  14. branch — a division
  15. saw — the tool
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. roll — a list
  18. race — a contest
  19. roll — a cake
  20. season — in sport
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. saw — the tool

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