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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: staff · rock · stem · plane · bowl · safe · scale · tube

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. scale — size or range
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. staff — employees
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. staff — employees
  9. scale — in music
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. rock — a stone
  13. plane — a tool
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stem — to come from
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. tube — a container
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. rock — music
  22. staff — a stick
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bowl — a dish

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