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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. net — for catching
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. net — after costs
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. saw — the tool
  9. press — newspapers
  10. stock — goods
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. net — in sport
  13. press — to push
  14. stock — shares
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bark — to shout
  20. plane — a tool
  21. press — a publisher
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. hide — animal skin

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