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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: scale · plane · land · roll · shower · bear · jam · bore

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. scale — in music
  4. roll — a list
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. plane — a tool
  8. bore — to drill
  9. shower — rain
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. land — a country
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bore — to tire
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. land — to come down
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. land — ground
  18. bear — the animal
  19. roll — a cake
  20. scale — size or range
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. shower — to wash
  24. jam — a tight spot

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