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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. prune — to trim
  6. march — the month
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. press — newspapers
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. saw — the tool
  13. march — music
  14. saw — the tool
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. press — a publisher
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. press — to push
  19. rock — music
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. perch — the fish
  22. prune — to trim
  23. sharp — clever
  24. march — the month

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