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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: face · suit · drill · jam · cabinet · plane · arm · lie

  1. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. drill — army training
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. suit — to fit
  8. face — to confront
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. lie — to recline
  11. drill — the tool
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. plane — a tool
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. drill — a practice
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. suit — clothes
  19. face — part of the head
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. face — to point toward
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. arm — part of the body

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