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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: pitcher · hide · rush · plane · mark · pit · wave · drill

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. pit — a hole
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. drill — army training
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. mark — a trace
  11. drill — the tool
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. drill — a practice
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mark — a grade
  18. pit — in a race
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. pitcher — a jug

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