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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 120 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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. file — a document
  3. staff — a stick
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. staff — employees
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. saw — the tool
  11. staff — employees
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. file — a line of people
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. file — a tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. plane — a tool

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