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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: plane · file · pitcher · deal · pass · jam · staff · drill

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. pass — a permit
  3. drill — the tool
  4. file — a tool
  5. file — a document
  6. staff — a stick
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. drill — army training
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. deal — to handle
  16. plane — a tool
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. staff — employees
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. staff — employees
  22. file — a line of people
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. jam — in traffic

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