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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: calf · ball · plane · current · spring · land · mug · stem

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. land — ground
  5. current — happening now
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. spring — a coil
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. ball — a great time
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mug — to rob
  13. land — a country
  14. mug — a cup
  15. spring — of water
  16. ball — a dance
  17. plane — a tool
  18. stem — to come from
  19. current — of water
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. land — to come down
  22. mug — a face
  23. current — electric
  24. spring — the season

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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