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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: land · fine · chip · nail · plane · perch · cabinet · bass

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. fine — all right
  3. land — a country
  4. bass — the fish
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. plane — a tool
  9. chip — to eat
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. perch — the fish
  15. land — ground
  16. fine — high quality
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. chip — for betting
  19. bass — low music
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. land — to come down
  24. perch — for a bird

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