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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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. bulb — for light
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. content — happy
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. plane — a tool
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bass — low music
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. bass — the fish
  17. wax — to grow
  18. foot — a measure
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. content — the amount
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. plane — an aircraft

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