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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.

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: suit · nail · fan · saw · date · net · plane · track

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. plane — a tool
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. net — for catching
  8. suit — clothes
  9. track — a song
  10. suit — in cards
  11. track — to keep track
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — the tool
  14. net — in sport
  15. date — the fruit
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. suit — to fit
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. track — a path
  24. net — after costs

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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