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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 all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. chip — to eat
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. chip — for betting
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. key — the most important part
  11. key — in music
  12. mine — for digging
  13. rock — a stone
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. rock — music
  24. key — for a lock

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