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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 · pop · pit · bear · safe · roll · plane · ground

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. pop — music
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. roll — a list
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. ground — crushed
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pop — to visit
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. plane — a tool
  16. ground — the earth
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pit — a hole
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. roll — a cake
  22. pop — soda
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. ground — a position

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