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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: roll · plane · mouse · face · jam · trunk · bulb · land

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. land — a country
  8. face — part of the head
  9. land — to come down
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. roll — a list
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. face — to confront
  16. roll — a cake
  17. land — ground
  18. plane — a tool
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. face — to point toward
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. mouse — the animal

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