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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: bank · trunk · plane · craft · mug · firm · sharp · foot

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. mug — to rob
  3. plane — a tool
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. firm — a company
  6. mug — a face
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. bank — of a river
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. sharp — clever
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. craft — a skill
  18. firm — steady
  19. bank — for money
  20. firm — decided
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. mug — a cup
  23. foot — a measure
  24. craft — boats

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