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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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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: last · plane · cue · sharp · face · lie · mug · board

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. plane — a tool
  3. last — to go on
  4. cue — a signal
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. last — finally
  7. sharp — clever
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. mug — a face
  10. board — to get on
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. last — final
  13. cue — a hint
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. face — to confront
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. board — a committee
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. face — part of the head
  20. face — to point toward
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. cue — for pool
  24. plane — in geometry

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