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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 120 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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. root — of a word
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. rock — a stone
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. root — of a plant
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bass — low music
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. rock — music
  15. pit — a hole
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. pit — in a race
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. root — the cause
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. bass — the fish

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