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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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. tube — the underground
  4. row — to paddle
  5. spell — a short time
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. pitch — completely
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. firm — decided
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. firm — a company
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. firm — steady
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. tube — a container
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. spell — letters
  19. spell — magic
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. row — a line
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. arm — part of the body

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