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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 120 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: row · bore · band · press · wave · bulb · plane · firm

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. press — newspapers
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. bore — to tire
  6. firm — a company
  7. row — a line
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. band — a ring
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. band — a music group
  14. bulb — for light
  15. press — to push
  16. bulb — for light
  17. row — to paddle
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. bore — to drill
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. plane — a tool
  23. firm — steady
  24. press — a publisher

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