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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. suit — in cards
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. suit — to fit
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. mine — for digging
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. lean — to bend
  11. suit — clothes
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. season — of the year
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. lean — thin
  21. season — in sport
  22. toast — bread
  23. plane — a tool
  24. date — the fruit

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