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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. firm — steady
  5. drill — army training
  6. plane — a tool
  7. season — in sport
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. drill — the tool
  10. spell — a short time
  11. season — of the year
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — letters
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. firm — a company
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. hand — help
  20. drill — a practice
  21. hand — in cards
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — on a finger

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