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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. plane — a tool
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. march — music
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. stem — to come from
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. march — the month
  16. march — the month
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. suit — to fit
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. suit — in cards

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