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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: firm · hand · rash · game · plane · pass · stock · press

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. rash — a series
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. hand — in cards
  8. firm — decided
  9. plane — a tool
  10. stock — shares
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. firm — a company
  13. hand — help
  14. press — a publisher
  15. rash — hasty
  16. press — to push
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. pass — a permit
  19. game — a match
  20. stock — goods
  21. game — wild animals
  22. firm — steady
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. press — newspapers

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