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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: cabinet · pitcher · hand · plane · key · staff · squash · vault

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. squash — to crush
  4. key — in music
  5. staff — a stick
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. staff — employees
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. key — the most important part
  12. key — for a lock
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. plane — a tool
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. hand — in cards
  17. squash — the sport
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. vault — a safe
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. hand — help
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. staff — employees

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