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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.

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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.

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: ball · plane · root · lie · saw · key · pit · wake

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. root — of a word
  4. saw — the tool
  5. plane — a tool
  6. wake — a trail
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. lie — to recline
  10. pit — a hole
  11. key — for a lock
  12. ball — a great time
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. key — in music
  16. pit — in a race
  17. root — of a plant
  18. key — the most important part
  19. root — the cause
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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