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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 · plane · calf · pass · mate · firm · root · branch

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. mate — a friend
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. key — for a lock
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. key — the most important part
  9. root — the cause
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. branch — a division
  12. root — of a plant
  13. firm — steady
  14. firm — a company
  15. mate — to breed
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. key — in music
  18. root — of a word
  19. firm — decided
  20. pass — a permit
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. mate — a partner
  24. branch — of a tree

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