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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. rock — a stone
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. rock — music
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. last — final
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. last — to go on
  18. last — finally
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. toast — bread
  21. sharp — clever
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. plane — a tool
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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