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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: ball · rush · content · sharp · nail · prune · pass · plane

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. plane — a tool
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. sharp — clever
  5. content — happy
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. ball — a great time
  10. pass — a permit
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. prune — to trim
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. prune — to trim
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. content — the amount
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rush — hurry
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. rush — to hurry

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