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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. court — for sport
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. face — to point toward
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. scale — in music
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. face — to confront
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. court — of a king
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. court — of law
  23. scale — size or range
  24. face — part of the head

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