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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. key — the most important part
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. ground — a position
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. key — for a lock
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. ground — crushed
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. lie — to recline
  16. ground — the earth
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. plane — a tool
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. foot — a measure
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. key — in music

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