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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. pop — music
  3. suit — in cards
  4. net — for catching
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. key — for a lock
  8. capital — a city
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. net — in sport
  11. capital — money
  12. cue — a hint
  13. cue — a signal
  14. net — after costs
  15. suit — to fit
  16. key — the most important part
  17. pop — soda
  18. key — in music
  19. cue — for pool
  20. suit — clothes
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. pop — to visit
  24. plane — a tool

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