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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. plane — a tool
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. prune — to trim
  10. net — in sport
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. net — for catching
  13. prune — to trim
  14. pit — in a race
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. pit — a hole
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. wake — a trail
  21. net — after costs
  22. stand — to bear
  23. branch — a division
  24. stand — on your feet

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