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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: ball · lie · perch · plane · current · deal · cell · fan

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. lie — to recline
  7. current — of water
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. current — happening now
  12. plane — a tool
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. ball — a dance
  15. perch — the fish
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. ball — a great time
  21. cell — a phone
  22. deal — to handle
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. cell — in biology

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