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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: saw · fork · plane · temple · fan · bulb · sharp · file

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. fork — in a road
  3. file — a tool
  4. bulb — for light
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. file — a document
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. sharp — clever
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — the tool
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. file — a line of people
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. bulb — for light
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. fork — to eat with

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