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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 teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. plane — a tool
  4. prune — to trim
  5. stand — to bear
  6. can — to be able to
  7. prune — to trim
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. roll — a cake
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. wound — an injury
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. wound — an injury
  24. roll — on a roll

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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