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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: track · lie · plane · stick · spring · fine · rush · branch

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. track — a path
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. spring — the season
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. plane — a tool
  12. fine — all right
  13. spring — a coil
  14. track — to keep track
  15. track — a song
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. branch — a division
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. fine — high quality
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. spring — of water
  24. rush — hurry

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