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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.

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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: plane · wave · trunk · fan · fine · nail · cue · rash

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. plane — a tool
  4. fine — high quality
  5. cue — a signal
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fine — all right
  8. rash — a series
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. cue — for pool
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. cue — a hint
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rash — hasty
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. wave — of the sea

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