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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: ball · mug · temple · net · plane · wake · ground · leaves

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. ground — a position
  4. ball — a great time
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — a tool
  7. ball — a dance
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mug — to rob
  10. mug — a face
  11. net — for catching
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. net — in sport
  14. mug — a cup
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. ground — crushed
  18. net — after costs
  19. wake — a trail
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. temple — a place of worship

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