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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.

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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: can · saw · plane · file · shower · racket · deal · current

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. current — electric
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. saw — the tool
  10. file — a document
  11. shower — to wash
  12. current — happening now
  13. current — of water
  14. saw — the tool
  15. deal — to handle
  16. can — to be able to
  17. plane — a tool
  18. file — a tool
  19. file — a line of people
  20. can — a tin
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. shower — rain
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. can — a tin

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