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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: scale · mug · lie · mark · jam · plane

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. mug — a cup
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. scale — size or range
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mug — a face
  12. mug — to rob
  13. plane — a tool
  14. scale — in music
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. mark — a trace

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