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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.

Make a worksheet

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: rest · plane · key · mate · track · hide · roll · branch

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. plane — a tool
  5. rest — a break
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. track — a song
  9. roll — a list
  10. rest — what's left
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. roll — a cake
  13. track — to keep track
  14. track — a path
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. key — the most important part
  17. branch — a division
  18. mate — a friend
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. mate — a partner
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. rest — what's left
  23. mate — to breed
  24. key — in music

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