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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.

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: plane · track · wake · safe · game · lean · cabinet · pitcher

  1. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. game — wild animals
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. game — a match
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. track — a path
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. lean — thin
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. wake — a trail
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. track — a song
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. lean — to bend

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