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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: tube · last · plane · pop · wind · press · wound · suit

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. press — newspapers
  3. press — to push
  4. last — finally
  5. last — to go on
  6. press — a publisher
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. pop — music
  11. wound — an injury
  12. wind — moving air
  13. wound — an injury
  14. tube — a container
  15. pop — soda
  16. pop — to visit
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. wind — moving air
  19. tube — the underground
  20. last — final
  21. plane — a tool
  22. suit — in cards
  23. suit — to fit
  24. suit — clothes

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