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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 116 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: lean · root · sharp · plane · bulb · scale

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. bulb — for light
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. lean — thin
  6. scale — size or range
  7. sharp — clever
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. root — of a word
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. scale — in music
  13. lean — to bend
  14. root — the cause
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. root — of a plant

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