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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 116 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: tube · stem · hide · ball · staff · face · bowl · plane

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — in a tire
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. tube — a container
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. face — to point toward
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. stem — to come from
  10. face — to confront
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. face — part of the head
  14. plane — a tool
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. staff — a stick
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. staff — employees
  19. ball — a dance
  20. ball — a great time
  21. tube — the underground
  22. staff — employees
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bowl — a football final

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