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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: clip · plane · pound · cue · pitcher · game · safe · toast

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. cue — a hint
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. cue — for pool
  12. clip — a video
  13. clip — for paper
  14. cue — a signal
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. clip — to cut
  17. game — a match
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. toast — bread
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. game — wild animals
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. pound — a weight

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