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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. season — in sport
  3. scale — in music
  4. prune — to trim
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bound — tied together
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. prune — to trim
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. can — to be able to
  17. saw — the tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. scale — size or range
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. can — a tin
  22. perch — the fish
  23. season — of the year
  24. plane — in geometry

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