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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 116 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. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — a tool
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. sharp — clever
  16. ball — a dance
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. prune — to trim
  19. can — a tin
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. bowl — a dish

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