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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.

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: toast · plane · bowl · pitcher · mark · can · lean · cold

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. The water is too ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. mark — a trace
  3. plane — a tool
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. lean — thin
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. cold — an illness
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. can — a tin
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. cold — not warm
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. cold — the Cold War
  18. toast — bread
  19. lean — to bend
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. can — a tin
  22. mark — a grade
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bowl — to roll

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