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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: temple · pitcher · plane · net · scale · saw · firm · root

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. firm — a company
  6. saw — the tool
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. net — in sport
  9. firm — decided
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. scale — size or range
  12. saw — the tool
  13. net — for catching
  14. root — the cause
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. plane — a tool
  18. scale — in music
  19. net — after costs
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. firm — steady
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. root — of a word
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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