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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. wax — to grow
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. stock — shares
  12. can — a tin
  13. cap — a hat
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. stock — goods
  17. pitch — completely
  18. cap — a lid
  19. cap — of ice
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. safe — a strongbox

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