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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 116 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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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 · stem · bay · key · ruler · chair · tube · ground

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. key — in music
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. stem — to come from
  6. ground — crushed
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. chair — a leader
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. plane — a tool
  12. ground — a position
  13. ground — the earth
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. key — the most important part
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. stem — a stem cell
  20. tube — the underground
  21. tube — a container
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. key — for a lock
  24. stem — of a plant

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