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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: rock · lie · key · fan · suit · perch · mine · plane

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. perch — the fish
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. suit — clothes
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. lie — to recline
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. rock — music
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. key — in music
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. key — the most important part
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. rock — a stone
  21. suit — to fit
  22. plane — a tool
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mine — for digging

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