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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: last · plane · suit · tube · leaves · fall · nail · net

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. plane — a tool
  3. net — for catching
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. fall — to drop
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. tube — a container
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. last — to go on
  13. fall — to drop
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. suit — to fit
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. suit — in cards
  18. net — after costs
  19. last — finally
  20. net — in sport
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. fall — the season
  23. last — final
  24. suit — clothes

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