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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 120 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ball — a great time
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. ball — a dance
  8. key — the most important part
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. foot — a measure
  14. key — in music
  15. suit — in cards
  16. lean — thin
  17. plane — a tool
  18. key — for a lock
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. lean — to bend
  23. suit — to fit
  24. foot — the bottom

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