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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: sharp · face · mug · craft · suit · plane · trunk · lie

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. face — part of the head
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. mug — a face
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. mug — to rob
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. craft — a skill
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. suit — in cards
  16. face — to point toward
  17. lie — to recline
  18. suit — clothes
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. mug — a cup
  21. craft — boats
  22. suit — to fit
  23. sharp — clever
  24. plane — a tool

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