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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: jam · squash · nail · pass · cell · plane · drill · saw

  1. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. squash — the sport
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. drill — army training
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. saw — the tool
  15. drill — the tool
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. saw — the tool
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. cell — in biology
  22. squash — to crush
  23. drill — a practice
  24. squash — the vegetable

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