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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: scale · date · mark · sharp · mug · can · bore · plane

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. sharp — clever
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. mug — to rob
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. mark — a grade
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. scale — in music
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — a face
  15. can — a tin
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bore — to tire
  20. can — a tin
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. date — the fruit
  23. mark — a trace
  24. plane — a tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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