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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: kick · deal · saw · fan · bound · plane · fork · staff

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. kick — in football
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bound — tied together
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. bound — certain
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. staff — employees
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. fork — in a road
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bound — obliged
  20. deal — to handle
  21. staff — employees
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — a tool
  24. kick — a thrill

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