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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 116 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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. cap — a lid
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. squash — the sport
  6. plane — a tool
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. can — a tin
  10. squash — to crush
  11. cap — of ice
  12. club — for dancing
  13. cap — a hat
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. club — a group
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. club — for golf
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. can — to be able to
  24. nail — for a hammer

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