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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: plane · suit · mug · hide · toast · tube · temple · foot

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. foot — a measure
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. suit — clothes
  5. tube — the underground
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. suit — in cards
  9. mug — a cup
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. mug — to rob
  13. plane — a tool
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. toast — bread
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. suit — to fit
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. tube — a container
  24. temple — side of the head

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