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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: ball · pitcher · key · fork · mark · saw · racket · plane

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. key — in music
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. ball — a dance
  8. key — for a lock
  9. saw — the tool
  10. plane — a tool
  11. key — the most important part
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. saw — the tool
  14. fork — in a road
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. mark — a trace
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. mark — a grade

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