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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: firm · fine · ground · plane · press · rock · shower · rush

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. firm — a company
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. shower — to wash
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. firm — steady
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. press — to push
  13. rock — a stone
  14. ground — a position
  15. ground — crushed
  16. press — a publisher
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. fine — all right
  19. rock — music
  20. firm — decided
  21. rush — hurry
  22. press — newspapers
  23. ground — the earth
  24. shower — rain

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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