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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: plane · stock · season · leaves · press · face · fine · fan

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. stock — shares
  3. season — in sport
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. fine — high quality
  8. stock — goods
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. face — to confront
  11. plane — a tool
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. face — part of the head
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. press — a publisher
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. press — newspapers
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. press — to push
  20. face — to point toward
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. fine — all right
  23. season — of the year
  24. fan — a supporter

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