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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. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. band — a ring
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. chair — a leader
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. root — of a word
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. root — the cause
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. prune — to trim
  17. band — a music group
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bank — for money
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bank — for money
  22. prune — to trim
  23. toast — bread
  24. root — of a plant

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