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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: safe · pitch · cabinet · plane · content · key · cue · rest

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. cue — for pool
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. plane — a tool
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cue — a signal
  10. rest — a break
  11. content — happy
  12. cue — a hint
  13. rest — what's left
  14. key — in music
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. pitch — completely
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. key — the most important part
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rest — what's left
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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