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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: plane · key · mate · hide · object · track · file · board

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. object — to protest
  5. object — an aim
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. board — a committee
  8. mate — a partner
  9. key — for a lock
  10. key — the most important part
  11. mate — to breed
  12. track — a path
  13. track — a song
  14. board — to get on
  15. track — to keep track
  16. file — a line of people
  17. plane — a tool
  18. mate — a friend
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. object — a thing
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. file — a tool
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. file — a document

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