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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. can — a tin
  5. tube — a container
  6. can — a tin
  7. spring — the season
  8. spring — a coil
  9. tube — the underground
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. foot — a measure
  12. branch — a division
  13. season — in sport
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. can — to be able to
  17. season — of the year
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. plane — a tool
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. spring — of water
  24. season — to add flavour

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