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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: row · arm · plane · mark · rush · firm · court · object

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. row — to paddle
  3. court — of a king
  4. plane — a tool
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. rush — hurry
  8. object — a thing
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. mark — a grade
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. firm — a company
  17. object — an aim
  18. object — to protest
  19. court — for sport
  20. row — a line
  21. court — of law
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. firm — steady
  24. firm — decided

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