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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: lash · temple · arm · plane · toast · fan · face · trunk

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. face — part of the head
  4. plane — a tool
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. face — to point toward
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. toast — bread
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. arm — part of the body

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