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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bass · plane · temple · prune · leaves · foot · press · staff

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. staff — a stick
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. bass — low music
  5. prune — to trim
  6. foot — a measure
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. press — to push
  9. bass — the fish
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. press — a publisher
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. staff — employees
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. staff — employees
  21. plane — a tool
  22. prune — to trim
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. prune — the fruit

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