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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: fork · bulb · racket · mine · plane · pop · track · can

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. mine — for digging
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. pop — soda
  7. can — a tin
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. track — to keep track
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. pop — music
  12. track — a path
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. fork — in a road
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. can — a tin
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pop — to visit
  24. track — a song

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