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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: key · pit · perch · squash · rest · track · plane · leaves

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. pit — a hole
  6. key — in music
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. rest — a break
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. key — for a lock
  12. track — a song
  13. track — to keep track
  14. rest — what's left
  15. plane — a tool
  16. perch — the fish
  17. rest — what's left
  18. track — a path
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. squash — to crush
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. key — the most important part
  24. squash — the sport

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