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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mark — a trace
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. date — the fruit
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mark — a grade
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. cue — a signal
  15. cue — for pool
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. cue — a hint
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. toast — bread

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