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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
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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: racket · rush · spring · toast · rock · plane · object · saw

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. spring — a coil
  3. rock — a stone
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. toast — bread
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. saw — the tool
  11. object — an aim
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. spring — the season
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. object — to protest
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rock — music
  18. object — a thing
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. spring — of water
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. racket — a loud noise

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