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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 120 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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. season — of the year
  3. hand — in cards
  4. perch — the fish
  5. object — a thing
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. ball — a dance
  10. season — in sport
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. ball — a great time
  15. fork — in a road
  16. fork — to eat with
  17. object — an aim
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. hand — help
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. object — to protest
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. mouse — the animal

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