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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. plane — a tool
  4. key — for a lock
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. wax — to grow
  8. spell — magic
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. spell — a short time
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. key — the most important part
  16. present — a gift
  17. spell — letters
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. present — the time now
  21. key — in music
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. present — there
  24. toast — bread

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