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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. root — of a plant
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. ground — crushed
  8. perch — the fish
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. rush — hurry
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. ground — a position
  13. ground — the earth
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. stand — to bear
  16. root — the cause
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bass — the fish
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bass — low music
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. root — of a word

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