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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
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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: net · bowl · mark · jam · ruler · plane · club · object

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. mark — a trace
  3. plane — a tool
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. net — after costs
  6. club — a group
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. mark — a grade
  10. net — in sport
  11. club — for dancing
  12. object — a thing
  13. object — to protest
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. object — an aim
  17. net — for catching
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. club — for golf

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