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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: spell · plane · drill · mouse · season · squash · fine · tube

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. tube — the underground
  4. spell — a short time
  5. squash — to crush
  6. fine — high quality
  7. tube — a container
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. spell — letters
  12. drill — the tool
  13. spell — magic
  14. season — in sport
  15. drill — army training
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. squash — the sport
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. fine — all right
  23. drill — a practice
  24. season — of the year

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