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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. spell — magic
  3. squash — to crush
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. can — to be able to
  8. plane — a tool
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. spell — letters
  11. squash — the sport
  12. spell — a short time
  13. mug — a face
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. chair — a leader
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. can — a tin
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. foot — a measure
  21. can — a tin
  22. mug — to rob
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. squash — the vegetable

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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