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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.

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: squash · scale · snap · suit · kid · plane · lean · can

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. squash — to crush
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. kid — to tease
  6. can — to be able to
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. scale — size or range
  10. can — a tin
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. can — a tin
  13. kid — child
  14. scale — in music
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. suit — in cards
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. lean — thin
  19. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  20. squash — the sport
  21. lean — to bend
  22. suit — clothes
  23. snap — to click
  24. suit — to fit

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