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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.

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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: tube · firm · cue · shower · mark · mouse · plane · spring

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. shower — to wash
  3. spring — of water
  4. cue — for pool
  5. spring — the season
  6. shower — rain
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. firm — a company
  10. firm — decided
  11. mark — a trace
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. cue — a hint
  14. mark — a grade
  15. tube — a container
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. cue — a signal
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. spring — a coil
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. tube — the underground
  24. firm — steady

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