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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. chair — a leader
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bound — tied together
  7. season — of the year
  8. plane — a tool
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. bound — obliged
  11. staff — a stick
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bound — certain
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. staff — employees
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. staff — employees
  22. toast — bread
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. season — in sport

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