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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: sharp · current · fine · rest · plane · trunk · mark · can

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  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. trunk — of an elephant
  2. current — electric
  3. can — to be able to
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. can — a tin
  6. current — happening now
  7. rest — a break
  8. rest — what's left
  9. mark — a trace
  10. rest — what's left
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. sharp — clever
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. mark — a grade
  15. can — a tin
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. current — of water
  20. fine — high quality
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. fine — all right
  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