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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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: lean · wound · calf · mark · trunk · key · plane · perch

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. plane — a tool
  9. key — for a lock
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. lean — to bend
  13. perch — the fish
  14. key — in music
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. mark — a grade
  20. wound — an injury
  21. key — the most important part
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. lean — thin
  24. wound — an injury

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