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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: bore · rush · lean · plane · face · fork · suit · roll

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. suit — in cards
  3. face — to point toward
  4. bore — to drill
  5. roll — a list
  6. roll — a cake
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. lean — to bend
  9. plane — a tool
  10. rush — hurry
  11. suit — clothes
  12. suit — to fit
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. face — part of the head
  18. lean — thin
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. fork — in a road
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. face — to confront
  24. bore — to tire

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