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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.

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: stand · bulb · staff · plane · key · hand · fine · mug

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. mug — to rob
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. mug — a face
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. mug — a cup
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. key — in music
  10. hand — help
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. staff — employees
  13. bulb — for light
  14. staff — a stick
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. staff — employees
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fine — all right
  19. stand — to bear
  20. plane — a tool
  21. hand — in cards
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. key — for a lock
  24. bulb — for light

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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