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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: pit · jam · saw · ground · ruler · plane · key · degree

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. degree — temperature
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. key — the most important part
  5. ground — crushed
  6. pit — in a race
  7. ground — the earth
  8. pit — a hole
  9. saw — the tool
  10. ground — a position
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. degree — an amount
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. saw — the tool
  17. plane — a tool
  18. key — in music
  19. degree — from a university
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. key — for a lock
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. ruler — a monarch

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