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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
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: row · nail · trunk · bowl · press · pass · safe · plane

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. pass — a permit
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. press — a publisher
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. row — to paddle
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. plane — a tool
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. press — to push
  17. press — newspapers
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. row — a line
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. trunk — of a car

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