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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: safe · deal · key · file · scale · rush · stock · plane

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. scale — in music
  2. key — for a lock
  3. plane — a tool
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. scale — size or range
  6. file — a document
  7. rush — hurry
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. deal — to handle
  12. stock — shares
  13. file — a tool
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. key — the most important part
  16. stock — goods
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. file — a line of people
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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