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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: plane · bass · fine · ground · rush · lean · mouse · rock

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. bass — low music
  4. rush — hurry
  5. ground — crushed
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. plane — a tool
  11. fine — high quality
  12. ground — a position
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lean — to bend
  15. ground — the earth
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. lean — thin
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. bass — the fish
  23. rock — music
  24. fine — all right

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