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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. press — to push
  6. press — a publisher
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. wax — to grow
  20. press — newspapers
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. bulb — for light
  24. fan — a supporter

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