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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: plane · wound · bank · pitch · lie · pop · sharp · fan

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. wound — an injury
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. plane — a tool
  5. pop — soda
  6. bank — for money
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. pop — music
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. bank — of a river
  11. sharp — clever
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. wound — an injury
  15. bank — for money
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. pitch — completely
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pop — to visit
  24. lie — an untruth

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