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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 120 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: key · tube · fan · pass · pitcher · plane · foot · pit

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. foot — a measure
  3. pass — a permit
  4. key — for a lock
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. pit — a hole
  10. plane — a tool
  11. key — in music
  12. tube — a container
  13. tube — the underground
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. key — the most important part
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. pit — in a race

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