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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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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: cap · key · calf · plane · deal · season · bound · firm

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. key — the most important part
  4. firm — decided
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. key — in music
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. cap — a lid
  9. key — for a lock
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. plane — a tool
  14. bound — obliged
  15. season — in sport
  16. cap — a hat
  17. season — of the year
  18. deal — to handle
  19. firm — a company
  20. bound — certain
  21. cap — of ice
  22. bound — tied together
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. plane — an aircraft

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