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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
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: plane · pit · bound · lean · foot · band · racket · fine

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  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. plane — an aircraft
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bound — obliged
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bound — certain
  8. fine — all right
  9. lean — to bend
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. band — a ring
  12. foot — a measure
  13. bound — tied together
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lean — thin
  16. fine — high quality
  17. pit — a hole
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. pit — in a race
  21. plane — a tool
  22. band — a music group
  23. lean — to rest against
  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