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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.

Make a worksheet

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: staff · plane · temple · cabinet · key · drill · leaves · cue

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. staff — employees
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. drill — the tool
  5. cue — a hint
  6. staff — employees
  7. key — for a lock
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. drill — a practice
  12. key — the most important part
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. drill — army training
  15. plane — a tool
  16. cue — for pool
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. staff — a stick
  24. cue — a signal

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