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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. plane — a tool
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. rock — music
  10. rock — a stone
  11. net — after costs
  12. roll — a cake
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. net — in sport
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. lie — to recline
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. net — for catching
  23. roll — a list
  24. racket — a loud noise

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