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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.

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: dip · file · pass · stem · fall · plane · foot · saw

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. stem — to come from
  4. fall — to drop
  5. file — a document
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. fall — to drop
  8. saw — the tool
  9. file — a line of people
  10. dip — to sink
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. plane — a tool
  13. foot — a measure
  14. fall — the season
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. saw — the tool
  19. file — a tool
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. pass — a permit
  24. dip — to dunk

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