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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.

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: racket · fan · leaves · plane · mug · face · straw · bulb

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. face — part of the head
  6. bulb — for light
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. mug — a cup
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. plane — a tool
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. face — to confront
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. mug — to rob
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. face — to point toward
  19. bulb — for light
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. mug — a face
  24. leaves — to go away

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