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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: content · file · scale · plane · snap · staff · mark · jam

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. scale — size or range
  3. staff — a stick
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. staff — employees
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. scale — in music
  9. mark — a trace
  10. content — happy
  11. file — a document
  12. mark — a grade
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. staff — employees
  15. file — a line of people
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. file — a tool
  18. snap — to click
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. plane — a tool
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. content — the amount
  24. scale — for weighing

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