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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. degree — an amount
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. current — electric
  6. plane — a tool
  7. current — happening now
  8. foot — a measure
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. press — to push
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. press — newspapers
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. date — the fruit
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. degree — from a university
  18. current — of water
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. press — a publisher
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. degree — temperature

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