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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: pop · ball · cabinet · suit · wound · fan · foot · plane

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. wound — an injury
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. ball — a dance
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pop — to visit
  8. foot — a measure
  9. pop — soda
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. suit — clothes
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. suit — to fit
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. pop — music
  19. suit — in cards
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. wound — an injury
  23. plane — a tool
  24. fan — to cool the air

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