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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: jam · roll · firm · lie · plane · hide · branch · staff

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. staff — a stick
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. staff — employees
  11. roll — a cake
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. staff — employees
  14. branch — a division
  15. plane — a tool
  16. firm — steady
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. firm — decided
  20. lie — to recline
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. firm — a company
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. roll — a list

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