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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.

Make a worksheet

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: jam · temple · hide · object · plane · board · file · drill

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. object — a thing
  5. drill — a practice
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. file — a document
  9. drill — the tool
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a committee
  13. plane — a tool
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. file — a tool
  18. drill — army training
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. file — a line of people
  24. object — to protest

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