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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 116 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: pitch · leaves · staff · band · field · plane · key · can

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — a tin
  3. field — for sport
  4. can — to be able to
  5. key — for a lock
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. band — a music group
  8. key — the most important part
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. staff — employees
  11. plane — a tool
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. key — in music
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. pitch — completely
  16. field — farmland
  17. staff — employees
  18. field — a subject
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. staff — a stick
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. band — a ring

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