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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. chest — of your body
  4. plane — a tool
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. chest — a box
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. foot — a measure
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. tube — the underground
  12. can — a tin
  13. tube — a container
  14. face — part of the head
  15. can — a tin
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. wax — to grow
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. can — to be able to
  21. face — to confront
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. chest — of your body
  24. face — to point toward

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