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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. firm — decided
  4. shower — to wash
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. can — a tin
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. can — a tin
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. prune — to trim
  16. firm — a company
  17. plane — a tool
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. shower — rain
  22. can — to be able to
  23. prune — to trim
  24. plane — an aircraft

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