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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: rush · nail · plane · ruler · trunk · fan · can · march

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  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 — an aircraft
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. plane — a tool
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. march — the month
  6. march — the month
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. can — a tin
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. can — a tin
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. can — to be able to
  19. rush — hurry
  20. march — music
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. trunk — of a tree
  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