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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
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: bass · cabinet · face · season · plane · rash · calf · squash

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. squash — to crush
  4. face — to point toward
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. face — part of the head
  7. plane — a tool
  8. squash — the sport
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bass — low music
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. rash — a series
  14. season — of the year
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bass — the fish
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. season — in sport
  19. face — to confront
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. rash — hasty
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. calf — a young animal

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