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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: rock · racket · bowl · face · plane · press · key · lean

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. press — to push
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. plane — a tool
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. key — in music
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. press — newspapers
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. press — a publisher
  13. key — the most important part
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. face — to point toward
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. lean — to bend
  19. face — to confront
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — music
  22. lean — thin
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. key — for a lock

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