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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. content — the amount
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — a tin
  9. press — a publisher
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. content — happy
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. foot — a measure
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. can — to be able to
  17. press — to push
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. wax — to grow
  20. rush — hurry
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. plane — a tool
  23. press — newspapers
  24. foot — part of the body

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