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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. staff — a stick
  3. pass — a permit
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. staff — employees
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. squash — to crush
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. rock — a stone
  13. staff — employees
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. plane — a tool
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. squash — the sport
  21. saw — the tool
  22. rock — music
  23. saw — the tool
  24. fan — a supporter

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