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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: row · rash · plane · face · stand · track · leaves · rock

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. face — part of the head
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. face — to point toward
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. plane — a tool
  7. face — to confront
  8. stand — to bear
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. row — a line
  11. rash — a series
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. row — to paddle
  14. rash — hasty
  15. rock — a stone
  16. track — to keep track
  17. track — a song
  18. rock — music
  19. track — a path
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. rash — on the skin

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