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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. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. key — for a lock
  4. pop — soda
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. ball — a great time
  8. key — the most important part
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. spring — of water
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. pop — music
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. ball — a dance
  16. pop — to visit
  17. plane — a tool
  18. spring — a coil
  19. club — for dancing
  20. key — in music
  21. club — a group
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. spring — the season
  24. club — for golf

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