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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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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 ________________ took off on time.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. content — the amount
  4. bear — the animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. bear — the animal
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. plane — a tool
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. branch — a division
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. track — a path
  17. track — to keep track
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. track — a song
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. content — happy
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. wake — a trail

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