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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 120 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: bore · scale · pop · plane · nail · fan · chair · bay

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. pop — soda
  6. pop — music
  7. bore — to drill
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. scale — in music
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bore — to tire
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. chair — a leader
  16. pop — to visit
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. scale — size or range
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. nail — for a hammer

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