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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: file · saw · bulb · wound · rush · deal · plane · trunk

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. file — a document
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. wound — an injury
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. wound — an injury
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. file — a tool
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. file — a line of people
  18. rush — hurry
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. deal — to handle
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. saw — the tool
  23. plane — a tool
  24. bulb — for light

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