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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: jam · sharp · plane · stock · suit · tube · nail · snap

  1. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. snap — to click
  6. tube — the underground
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. suit — to fit
  9. suit — in cards
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. stock — shares
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. suit — clothes
  17. stock — goods
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. plane — a tool
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. sharp — clever

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