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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. branch — a division
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. object — to protest
  6. plane — a tool
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. roll — a cake
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. object — an aim
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. cue — for pool
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. object — a thing
  16. can — a tin
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. roll — a list
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. cue — a hint
  22. cue — a signal
  23. can — to be able to
  24. jam — in traffic

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