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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: plane · object · net · jam · deal · bulb · ruler · saw

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bulb — for light
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. plane — a tool
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. object — to protest
  12. net — for catching
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. deal — to handle
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bulb — for light
  19. net — in sport
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. saw — the tool
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. net — after costs
  24. object — a thing

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