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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bank — for money
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. ball — a dance
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. branch — a division
  9. plane — a tool
  10. swing — music
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. bank — for money
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mine — for digging
  21. pass — a permit
  22. swing — to play on
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. swing — in golf

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