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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: fork · arm · fine · key · mine · plane · branch · ground

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. key — the most important part
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fork — in a road
  7. key — in music
  8. plane — a tool
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. ground — the earth
  14. ground — a position
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. mine — for digging
  19. ground — crushed
  20. fine — all right
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. branch — a division
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. key — for a lock

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