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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. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. can — to be able to
  5. season — in sport
  6. season — of the year
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. can — a tin
  10. court — for sport
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. can — a tin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. content — the amount
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. court — of a king
  20. court — of law
  21. bulb — for light
  22. content — happy
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. patient — a sick person

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