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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. rock — a stone
  4. net — after costs
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bass — low music
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. bass — the fish
  13. net — in sport
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. net — for catching
  18. rock — music

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