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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 120 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
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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: spring · net · bass · suit · pitcher · lie · plane · deal

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. net — for catching
  3. suit — to fit
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. spring — of water
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. suit — in cards
  11. net — after costs
  12. suit — clothes
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bass — the fish
  15. spring — the season
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. bass — low music
  19. net — in sport
  20. deal — to handle
  21. spring — a coil
  22. plane — a tool
  23. lie — to recline
  24. deal — a big deal

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