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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: spell · plane · stand · ball · ruler · nail · fork · shower

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. spell — a short time
  3. spell — letters
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. ball — a dance
  6. plane — a tool
  7. shower — to wash
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. ball — a great time
  10. stand — to bear
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. shower — rain
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. spell — magic
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. fork — in a road
  24. ruler — for measuring

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