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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
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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: roll · fine · can · stand · plane · land · saw · ball

  1. When are we going to ________________?
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  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. land — to come down
  2. roll — a list
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. saw — the tool
  5. can — a tin
  6. land — ground
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. land — a country
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — to be able to
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. stand — to bear
  17. ball — a dance
  18. roll — a cake
  19. fine — all right
  20. saw — the tool
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. fine — high quality
  24. plane — a tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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