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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: fall · bark · sharp · face · plane · current · suit · mug

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. mug — to rob
  4. current — happening now
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. current — of water
  7. plane — a tool
  8. mug — a cup
  9. face — to point toward
  10. fall — the season
  11. fall — to drop
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. sharp — clever
  15. suit — to fit
  16. bark — a dog's sound
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. suit — in cards
  19. mug — a face
  20. face — part of the head
  21. fall — to drop
  22. face — to confront
  23. suit — clothes
  24. current — electric

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