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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. plane — a tool
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mug — a face
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. mug — a cup
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. foot — a measure
  13. row — a line
  14. scale — size or range
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. stock — shares
  19. stock — goods
  20. wax — to grow
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. scale — in music
  23. mug — to rob
  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