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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.

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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: last · ball · plane · bear · cabinet · stem · bore · key

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bear — the animal
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. last — to go on
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. key — for a lock
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. ball — a great time
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bore — to tire
  15. ball — a dance
  16. last — final
  17. bear — the animal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. stem — to come from
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. key — the most important part
  22. key — in music
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. plane — a tool

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