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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bear · toast · scale · plane · mine · can · fork · lean

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. mine — for digging
  4. lean — to bend
  5. bear — the animal
  6. can — to be able to
  7. fork — in a road
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. scale — in music
  10. can — a tin
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. scale — size or range
  13. lean — thin
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. can — a tin
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. bear — the animal
  18. plane — a tool
  19. toast — bread
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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