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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · can · mug · content · ground · key · saw · arm

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. can — to be able to
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. key — the most important part
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. content — happy
  9. mug — a face
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. ground — the earth
  13. can — a tin
  14. key — for a lock
  15. saw — the tool
  16. saw — the tool
  17. key — in music
  18. content — the amount
  19. mug — to rob
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. ground — a position
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. mug — a cup
  24. can — a tin

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