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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
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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: plane · mark · fan · temple · lie · ground · rush · can

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. can — a tin
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mark — a grade
  8. can — a tin
  9. rush — hurry
  10. can — to be able to
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. mark — a trace
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. ground — the earth
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. ground — a position
  18. ground — crushed
  19. plane — a tool
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. lie — to recline
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. fan — a supporter

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