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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: hide · date · ruler · leaves · lean · spell · plane · chip

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. plane — a tool
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. spell — letters
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. lean — to bend
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. chip — to eat
  16. lean — thin
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. spell — a short time
  20. date — the fruit
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. chip — for betting
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. spell — magic

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