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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. drill — the tool
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. branch — a division
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. wake — a trail
  10. cue — for pool
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. drill — a practice
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. cue — a signal
  18. rush — hurry
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. cue — a hint
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. plane — a tool

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