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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
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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 · track · file · mouse · suit · mine · chair · fan

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. file — a line of people
  3. suit — to fit
  4. file — a document
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. suit — in cards
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. plane — a tool
  13. mine — for digging
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. chair — a leader
  17. track — a path
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. track — to keep track
  20. file — a tool
  21. suit — clothes
  22. track — a song
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mouse — for a computer

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