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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. cell — a phone
  4. file — a line of people
  5. file — a document
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. cell — in biology
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — to bear
  10. plane — a tool
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. key — for a lock
  13. cue — a signal
  14. scale — in music
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. key — the most important part
  17. cue — for pool
  18. scale — size or range
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. cue — a hint
  22. file — a tool
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. plane — in geometry

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