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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mark · fan · plane · lean · bear · saw · cap · bore

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. cap — a lid
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. lean — to bend
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. cap — a hat
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bear — the animal
  11. cap — of ice
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. mark — a grade
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. saw — the tool
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. bore — to tire
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bore — to drill
  21. lean — thin
  22. plane — a tool
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. lean — to rest against

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