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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: pit · saw · perch · bank · field · plane · safe · fan

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. field — farmland
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. pit — in a race
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. perch — the fish
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bank — of a river
  15. field — for sport
  16. bank — for money
  17. field — a subject
  18. pit — a hole
  19. bank — for money
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. plane — a tool
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. safe — out of danger

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