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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: file · plane · season · root · last · mug · staff · foot

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. file — a tool
  3. last — finally
  4. plane — a tool
  5. mug — a face
  6. last — final
  7. root — of a word
  8. staff — employees
  9. mug — to rob
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. last — to go on
  12. season — in sport
  13. root — of a plant
  14. staff — employees
  15. file — a document
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. root — the cause
  20. staff — a stick
  21. season — of the year
  22. mug — a cup
  23. foot — a measure
  24. file — a line of people

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