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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: pit · tube · plane · key · lie · mark · clip · stand

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. mark — a trace
  3. pit — in a race
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. key — for a lock
  8. clip — for paper
  9. clip — a video
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. tube — a container
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. clip — to cut
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. stand — to bear
  17. key — the most important part
  18. key — in music
  19. pit — a hole
  20. plane — a tool
  21. lie — to recline
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. tube — the underground

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