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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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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. key — in music
  3. wind — moving air
  4. rock — a stone
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rock — music
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. rush — hurry
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. key — for a lock
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. rash — a series
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. plane — a tool
  17. key — the most important part
  18. rash — hasty
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. wind — moving air
  23. cabinet — ministers
  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