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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.

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: face · safe · plane · key · chip · rock · cabinet · saw

  1. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. chip — to eat
  3. face — to confront
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. chip — for betting
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. rock — a stone
  8. key — in music
  9. saw — the tool
  10. key — for a lock
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. plane — a tool
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. key — the most important part
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. face — part of the head
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. face — to point toward
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. saw — the tool
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — ministers

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