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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: squash · bear · plane · nail · ground · deal · bowl · game

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. ground — crushed
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. ground — a position
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. squash — to crush
  7. bear — the animal
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. ground — the earth
  16. game — wild animals
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. deal — to handle
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. squash — the sport
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. game — a match

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