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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. rock — a stone
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. drill — a practice
  6. prune — to trim
  7. track — to keep track
  8. drill — army training
  9. prune — to trim
  10. key — in music
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. track — a song
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. drill — the tool
  16. plane — a tool
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. key — the most important part
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. rock — music
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. track — a path
  23. key — for a lock
  24. lash — to lash out

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