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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 120 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: current · saw · plane · bowl · mug · cue · foot · wound

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  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. foot — part of the body
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. mug — a face
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. foot — a measure
  6. cue — for pool
  7. wound — an injury
  8. current — happening now
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. wound — an injury
  11. mug — a cup
  12. cue — a signal
  13. cue — a hint
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. saw — the tool
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. current — of water
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. mug — to rob
  22. current — electric
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. plane — a tool

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