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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 120 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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. board — to get on
  5. saw — the tool
  6. key — in music
  7. root — of a word
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. root — of a plant
  11. drill — the tool
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. rush — hurry
  14. key — the most important part
  15. board — a committee
  16. drill — a practice
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. key — for a lock
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. saw — the tool
  21. drill — army training
  22. root — the cause
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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