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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: sharp · pass · last · file · trunk · suit · plane · fan

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. last — finally
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. suit — to fit
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. suit — clothes
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. last — to go on
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. sharp — clever
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. last — final
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. file — a line of people
  20. file — a document
  21. pass — a permit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. file — 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