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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: face · press · plane · firm · deal · rush · fine · mine

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. face — to point toward
  3. press — to push
  4. face — part of the head
  5. plane — a tool
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rush — hurry
  9. fine — high quality
  10. firm — steady
  11. deal — to handle
  12. fine — all right
  13. press — a publisher
  14. press — newspapers
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. mine — for digging
  19. firm — a company
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. face — to confront
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. firm — decided
  24. fine — a penalty

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