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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.

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 · bear · face · lie · nail · plane · bowl · coach

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. face — to point toward
  8. face — part of the head
  9. bass — low music
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bass — the fish
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. bear — the animal
  17. plane — a tool
  18. face — to confront
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. lie — to recline
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bear — to put up with

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