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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
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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: lean · press · plane · scale · safe · suit · key · cell

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. scale — in music
  5. cell — a phone
  6. scale — size or range
  7. press — a publisher
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. press — to push
  10. key — for a lock
  11. suit — clothes
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. lean — thin
  15. lean — to bend
  16. key — the most important part
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. cell — in biology
  20. plane — a tool
  21. suit — to fit
  22. press — newspapers
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. suit — in cards

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