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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.

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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: safe · face · scale · pop · bat · pass · plane · stock

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. plane — a tool
  3. bat — for baseball
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. stock — goods
  8. scale — in music
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. face — to confront
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stock — shares
  16. bat — the animal
  17. pop — music
  18. face — part of the head
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. face — to point toward
  21. scale — size or range
  22. pop — to visit
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. pop — soda

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