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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. can — a tin
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bat — the animal
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. sharp — clever
  8. can — a tin
  9. plane — a tool
  10. key — in music
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. key — for a lock
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. key — the most important part
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. fork — to eat with

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