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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.

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: face · plane · hand · sharp · present · cabinet · bulb · rush

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. plane — a tool
  3. bulb — for light
  4. present — the time now
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. present — a gift
  8. face — part of the head
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. face — to confront
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. sharp — clever
  13. hand — help
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. present — there
  17. bulb — for light
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. face — to point toward
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. hand — in cards
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. rush — hurry
  24. cabinet — ministers

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