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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. firm — a company
  3. can — a tin
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. firm — decided
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. spring — of water
  9. spring — a coil
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. can — a tin
  12. firm — steady
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. mate — to breed
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. chip — for betting
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. chip — to eat
  19. can — to be able to
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. mate — a partner
  22. spring — the season
  23. mate — a friend
  24. calf — a young animal

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