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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. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. season — of the year
  5. can — to be able to
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. chest — of your body
  11. kid — to tease
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. can — a tin
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. season — in sport
  18. mine — for digging
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. plane — a tool
  21. chest — a box
  22. can — a tin
  23. kid — child
  24. chest — of your 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