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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 120 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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. squash — to crush
  6. squash — the sport
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. root — of a plant
  12. saw — the tool
  13. pound — a weight
  14. root — of a word
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. root — the cause
  17. saw — the tool
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. squash — the vegetable

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