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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: plane · shower · leaves · jam · board · pass · saw · key

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. board — a committee
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. key — in music
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. shower — to wash
  11. plane — a tool
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. shower — rain
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. saw — the tool
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. key — the most important part
  20. board — to get on
  21. key — for a lock
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. leaves — 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