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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: bound · fan · game · plane · face · branch · ball · can

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bound — certain
  4. branch — a division
  5. face — to point toward
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. can — a tin
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. game — wild animals
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. can — to be able to
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. face — to confront
  15. game — a match
  16. face — part of the head
  17. bound — obliged
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. can — a tin
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. plane — a tool
  23. bound — tied together
  24. ball — a great time

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