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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: nail · craft · plane · stand · land · lash · leaves · trunk

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. land — ground
  3. land — to come down
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. land — a country
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. stand — to bear
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. craft — a skill
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. craft — boats
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. plane — a tool
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. plane — an aircraft

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