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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 120 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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. lie — to recline
  3. net — in sport
  4. bank — for money
  5. present — a gift
  6. bank — of a river
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. land — a country
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. net — after costs
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. present — there
  15. present — the time now
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bank — for money
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. net — for catching
  21. pass — a permit
  22. land — ground
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. land — to come down

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