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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 116 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: lie · sharp · plane · spell · bear · wax · bat · mouse

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. spell — magic
  3. bat — the animal
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. spell — letters
  6. bear — the animal
  7. plane — a tool
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. bat — in an idiom
  11. lie — to recline
  12. spell — a short time
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. bear — the animal
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. sharp — clever

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