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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: tube · ball · current · foot · plane · last · toast · ruler

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. tube — a container
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. last — to go on
  8. foot — a measure
  9. plane — a tool
  10. ball — a great time
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. toast — bread
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. last — final
  18. ball — a dance
  19. tube — the underground
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. last — finally
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. current — happening now
  24. plane — in geometry

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