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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: date · track · march · object · hand · plane · suit · bay

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. march — music
  3. suit — in cards
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. object — to protest
  8. track — a path
  9. object — an aim
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. track — to keep track
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. object — a thing
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. suit — to fit
  16. hand — in cards
  17. track — a song
  18. march — the month
  19. hand — help
  20. suit — clothes
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. march — the month
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. date — the fruit

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