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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. plane — a tool
  5. can — a tin
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. last — finally
  9. ground — the earth
  10. roll — a list
  11. roll — a cake
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. can — a tin
  15. last — to go on
  16. last — final
  17. ground — a position
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. ground — crushed
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. leaves — lets stay

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