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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: bulb · press · foot · plane · roll · bound · row · lie

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  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. lie — an untruth
  2. plane — a tool
  3. bound — certain
  4. row — a line
  5. lie — to recline
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — obliged
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. bulb — for light
  11. press — to push
  12. roll — a list
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. foot — a measure
  17. roll — a cake
  18. bulb — for light
  19. row — to paddle
  20. press — newspapers
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. foot — part of the body
  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