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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: plane · cabinet · lean · rest · ball · mark · temple · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. ball — a dance
  6. plane — a tool
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. rest — what's left
  9. lean — thin
  10. can — a tin
  11. lean — to bend
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. mark — a grade
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. can — to be able to
  17. ball — a great time
  18. rest — what's left
  19. mark — a trace
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. rest — a break
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. cabinet — ministers

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