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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: scale · safe · plane · deal · court · mug · firm · rock

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. mug — to rob
  3. court — for sport
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. scale — in music
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. plane — a tool
  8. court — of a king
  9. firm — decided
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. rock — music
  12. firm — steady
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a face
  16. firm — a company
  17. rock — a stone
  18. scale — size or range
  19. deal — to handle
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. court — of law
  24. deal — an agreement

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