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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. pit — in a race
  3. staff — a stick
  4. pit — a hole
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. key — in music
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. chip — for betting
  10. staff — employees
  11. plane — a tool
  12. chip — to eat
  13. prune — to trim
  14. key — the most important part
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. prune — to trim
  17. staff — employees
  18. key — for a lock
  19. track — to keep track
  20. track — a path
  21. kick — in football
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. track — a song
  24. kick — with a leg

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