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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: suit · plane · ground · toast · clip · stand · key · bark

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. suit — to fit
  3. suit — in cards
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. key — in music
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. stand — to bear
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. suit — clothes
  10. toast — bread
  11. clip — a video
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. clip — for paper
  15. ground — crushed
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. ground — a position
  18. key — for a lock
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. key — the most important part
  21. ground — the earth
  22. bark — to shout
  23. clip — to cut
  24. bark — of a tree

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