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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
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: plane · saw · fork · game · nail · rest · current · bark

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. rest — what's left
  6. saw — the tool
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. rest — a break
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. saw — the tool
  12. game — a match
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. game — wild animals
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. fork — in a road
  21. current — electric
  22. rest — what's left
  23. bark — to shout
  24. plane — a tool

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