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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: mug · bear · plane · mate · field · fan · tube · trunk

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. field — farmland
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. field — for sport
  7. mate — a friend
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mug — a face
  12. mate — to breed
  13. field — a subject
  14. mug — a cup
  15. plane — a tool
  16. mate — a partner
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bear — the animal
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. bear — the animal
  23. tube — a container
  24. tube — the underground

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