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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: hand · season · staff · can · saw · swing · root · plane

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. plane — a tool
  3. can — to be able to
  4. swing — to play on
  5. root — of a plant
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. can — a tin
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. can — a tin
  10. staff — employees
  11. hand — help
  12. staff — employees
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. root — of a word
  15. root — the cause
  16. saw — the tool
  17. swing — music
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. season — in sport
  20. staff — a stick
  21. season — of the year
  22. saw — the tool
  23. swing — in golf
  24. plane — an aircraft

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