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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: lie · roll · plane · season · cabinet · fork · arm · stem

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. fork — in a road
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. roll — a cake
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. season — in sport
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lie — to recline
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. roll — a list
  18. stem — to come from
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. season — of the year

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