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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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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: root · mark · plane · cabinet · staff · chip · key · perch

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  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. plane — a tool
  2. key — in music
  3. perch — the fish
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mark — a grade
  8. root — of a plant
  9. key — the most important part
  10. root — of a word
  11. mark — a trace
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. chip — for betting
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — a stick
  17. staff — employees
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. root — the cause
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. chip — to eat
  23. plane — an aircraft
  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