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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 · staff · nail · plane · dip · mug · saw · fan

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. staff — a stick
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. saw — the tool
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. staff — employees
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. staff — employees
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. mug — a face
  17. saw — the tool
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. dip — to sink
  20. mug — a cup
  21. plane — a tool
  22. mug — to rob
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. dip — to dunk

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