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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 president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. plane — a tool
  3. squash — the sport
  4. rock — music
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. ground — the earth
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bank — of a river
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bank — for money
  12. ground — crushed
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. roll — a cake
  16. stock — goods
  17. stock — shares
  18. ground — a position
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. bank — for money
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. roll — a list

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