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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
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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: cold · safe · current · bass · land · stem · foot · plane

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The water is too ________________.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. cold — the Cold War
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. current — happening now
  7. stem — to come from
  8. current — electric
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. current — of water
  11. foot — a measure
  12. cold — not warm
  13. land — ground
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. land — a country
  18. cold — an illness
  19. bass — low music
  20. land — to come down
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. bass — the fish
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. plane — a tool

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