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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: rash · firm · bulb · rest · plane · lie · ground · track

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. rash — hasty
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rest — what's left
  6. firm — decided
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. bulb — for light
  9. firm — steady
  10. track — a path
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. ground — the earth
  14. rest — what's left
  15. bulb — for light
  16. ground — crushed
  17. ground — a position
  18. rest — a break
  19. track — a song
  20. track — to keep track
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. rash — a series
  23. firm — a company
  24. lie — to recline

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