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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mark · plane · foot · spell · pitcher · lash · club · perch

  1. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. mark — a trace
  4. club — for dancing
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. club — a group
  9. foot — a measure
  10. mark — a grade
  11. plane — a tool
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. spell — magic
  18. spell — a short time
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. spell — letters
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. perch — the fish
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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