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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: snap · chip · firm · can · foot · fan · plane · date

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. firm — steady
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. chip — for betting
  5. foot — a measure
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. firm — a company
  8. date — the fruit
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. snap — to click
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. chip — to eat
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. firm — decided
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. can — a tin

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