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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: craft · pass · plane · fan · pop · net · deal · mark

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. mark — a trace
  3. plane — a tool
  4. net — in sport
  5. mark — a grade
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pop — soda
  10. craft — boats
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. craft — a skill
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. pop — music
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. deal — to handle
  17. net — for catching
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. net — after costs
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pop — to visit

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