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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. march — music
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. can — a tin
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. kick — with a leg
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. march — the month
  12. kick — in football
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. suit — in cards
  15. suit — to fit
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. can — to be able to
  19. march — the month
  20. can — a tin
  21. rush — hurry
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. suit — clothes

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