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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: can · root · lie · bat · cue · press · plane · last

  1. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. cue — for pool
  3. press — a publisher
  4. press — newspapers
  5. can — a tin
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. lie — to recline
  8. can — a tin
  9. last — finally
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. root — the cause
  12. cue — a hint
  13. bat — the animal
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. last — final
  17. cue — a signal
  18. root — of a plant
  19. can — to be able to
  20. root — of a word
  21. last — to go on
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. press — to push
  24. plane — a tool

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