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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. rock — a stone
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. stand — to bear
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. rock — music
  12. saw — the tool
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. root — of a plant
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. root — the cause
  17. sharp — clever
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. plane — a tool
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — to recline
  24. root — of a word

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