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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: bowl · saw · plane · press · jam · lash · racket · march

  1. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. saw — the tool
  3. press — newspapers
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. saw — the tool
  7. press — to push
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. march — the month
  11. march — music
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. plane — a tool
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. press — a publisher
  24. bowl — a football final

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