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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: rush · stick · nail · bore · pitcher · kid · plane · foot

  1. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. foot — a measure
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. bore — to tire
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. kid — to tease
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. rush — hurry
  20. plane — a tool
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. bore — to drill
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. rush — to hurry

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