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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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. root — of a plant
  3. tube — a container
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. saw — the tool
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. tube — the underground
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. plane — a tool
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. root — the cause
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. saw — the tool
  19. root — of a word
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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