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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: jam · track · trunk · fine · plane · ruler · foot · sharp

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. track — to keep track
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. fine — all right
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. track — a song
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. sharp — clever
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. plane — a tool
  15. foot — a measure
  16. fine — high quality
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. track — a path
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. ruler — for measuring

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