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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: pitcher · trunk · leaves · net · lean · chair · plane · mine

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. lean — to bend
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. net — for catching
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. chair — a leader
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. lean — thin
  13. plane — a tool
  14. net — after costs
  15. mine — for digging
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. net — in sport
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. leaves — lets stay

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