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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. pit — in a race
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. saw — the tool
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. tube — the underground
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. plane — a tool
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. saw — the tool
  18. pit — a hole
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. tube — a container
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. chair — a leader

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