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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: suit · mug · plane · can · sharp · stem · season · track

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mug — a face
  3. stem — to come from
  4. suit — to fit
  5. suit — clothes
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. suit — in cards
  8. plane — a tool
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — a tin
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. sharp — clever
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. track — a path
  17. track — to keep track
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. track — a song
  20. season — in sport
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. season — of the year
  23. mug — to rob
  24. can — to be able to

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