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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: current · plane · straw · fine · ball · lean · face · toast

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. toast — bread
  3. current — electric
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. lean — thin
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ball — a dance
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. plane — a tool
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. ball — a great time
  13. fine — high quality
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — of water
  16. lean — to bend
  17. fine — all right
  18. face — to confront
  19. face — part of the head
  20. face — to point toward
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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