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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 120 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: trunk · bank · lie · band · net · fan · plane · land

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. bank — for money
  6. bank — of a river
  7. net — for catching
  8. land — a country
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. net — after costs
  13. land — ground
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. net — in sport
  17. band — a music group
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bank — for money
  20. land — to come down
  21. band — a ring
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. trunk — of a car

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