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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: lean · deal · plane · suit · sharp · lie · band · track

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. lean — thin
  4. plane — a tool
  5. suit — to fit
  6. sharp — clever
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. deal — to handle
  9. suit — in cards
  10. track — a path
  11. band — a ring
  12. lie — to recline
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. suit — clothes
  15. band — a music group
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. track — to keep track
  20. track — a song
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lean — to bend

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