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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 120 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: mark · land · lean · fan · press · sharp · mouse · plane

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. plane — a tool
  3. press — newspapers
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. land — a country
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. press — to push
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. land — to come down
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. mark — a grade
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. land — ground
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. sharp — clever
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. lean — to bend
  22. lean — thin
  23. mark — a trace
  24. press — a publisher

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