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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: rock · mouse · content · safe · plane · deal · net · tube

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. content — happy
  6. content — the amount
  7. deal — to handle
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. tube — the underground
  13. net — for catching
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. net — in sport
  16. net — after costs
  17. rock — a stone
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. plane — a tool
  20. tube — a container
  21. rock — music
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. mouse — the animal

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