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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: prune · bat · toast · jam · spell · plane · vault · safe

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. spell — a short time
  3. spell — letters
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. spell — magic
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. prune — to trim
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. plane — a tool
  12. toast — bread
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. vault — a safe
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. prune — to trim
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bat — the animal
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. bat — for baseball

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