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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: mug · mark · nail · safe · foot · wound · plane · row

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. mug — a face
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a cup
  12. wound — an injury
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. wound — an injury
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. mark — a trace
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. foot — a measure
  22. mark — a grade
  23. row — to paddle
  24. plane — a tool

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