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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: suit · hand · bulb · track · cabinet · plane · toast · present

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. bulb — for light
  3. track — to keep track
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. suit — clothes
  9. suit — in cards
  10. present — there
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. track — a path
  14. plane — a tool
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. hand — in cards
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. present — the time now
  19. toast — bread
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. track — a song
  22. suit — to fit
  23. hand — help
  24. present — a gift

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