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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: lean · mug · straw · leaves · rock · plane · court · face

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. rock — a stone
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. mug — a face
  6. face — part of the head
  7. plane — a tool
  8. face — to confront
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. court — of a king
  11. face — to point toward
  12. court — for sport
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. court — of law
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. lean — to bend
  17. mug — a cup
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. rock — music
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. lean — thin

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