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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: net · plane · racket · cap · wave · arm · bore · fan

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  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. plane — in geometry
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. net — for catching
  10. cap — of ice
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. cap — a lid
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. bore — to tire
  16. net — in sport
  17. bore — to drill
  18. net — after costs
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. cap — a hat
  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