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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: hide · deal · stand · fan · toast · plane · temple · suit

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. toast — bread
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. deal — to handle
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. suit — clothes
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. stand — to bear
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. suit — in cards
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. plane — a tool

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