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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: dip · lie · cabinet · mug · plane · season · wax · bore

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — to recline
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. mug — a face
  8. plane — a tool
  9. bore — to tire
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. season — in sport
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bore — to drill
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. dip — to sink
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. mug — to rob
  21. wax — to grow
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. season — of the year
  24. mug — a cup

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