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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
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: rest · pitch · suit · foot · fine · branch · mouse · plane

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. rest — a break
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. suit — to fit
  7. rest — what's left
  8. suit — in cards
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. fine — high quality
  12. pitch — completely
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. branch — a division
  15. suit — clothes
  16. plane — a tool
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. foot — a measure
  21. fine — all right
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. fine — a penalty

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