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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: temple · rock · deal · plane · net · track · stock · fan

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. net — after costs
  4. rock — music
  5. stock — shares
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. track — a song
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. deal — to handle
  14. track — a path
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. net — in sport
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. stock — goods
  22. track — to keep track
  23. net — for catching
  24. rock — a stone

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