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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. file — a document
  3. stand — to bear
  4. file — a tool
  5. can — a tin
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. file — a line of people
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. hand — in cards
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. deal — to handle
  14. can — a tin
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. can — to be able to
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. toast — bread
  22. hand — help
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. plane — in geometry

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