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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: saw · drill · safe · plane · lash · pit · jam · rule

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. saw — the tool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. saw — the tool
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. drill — army training
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. rule — government
  13. plane — a tool
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. drill — a practice
  18. pit — a hole
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. rule — a law
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. rule — to rule out
  24. pit — in a race

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