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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: season · present · leaves · key · pound · plane · rock · lie

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. season — of the year
  4. present — a gift
  5. rock — a stone
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. present — there
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. season — in sport
  12. key — the most important part
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. key — in music
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — music
  18. lie — to recline
  19. plane — a tool
  20. pound — a weight
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. key — for a lock

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