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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 · saw · plane · mouse · march · mug · leaves · arm

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — to recline
  6. saw — the tool
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. mug — a face
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. march — the month
  11. plane — a tool
  12. mug — to rob
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. mug — a cup
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. march — music
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. march — the month
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. saw — the 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