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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 124 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: season · key · mine · dip · pitcher · mug · fan · plane

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. season — of the year
  4. mug — to rob
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. key — for a lock
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. plane — a tool
  10. mug — a cup
  11. key — the most important part
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. dip — to sink
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. key — in music
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. mine — for digging
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. season — in sport
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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