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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: nail · plane · object · fan · stem · bowl · row · can

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. object — to protest
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. plane — a tool
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. object — a thing
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. object — an aim
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. stem — to come from
  20. can — a tin
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. row — a line

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