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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
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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: mouse · toast · key · leaves · clip · shower · plane · date

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. shower — rain
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. clip — for paper
  5. key — for a lock
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. key — in music
  8. clip — to cut
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. shower — to wash
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. toast — bread
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. plane — a tool
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — the fruit
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. clip — a video
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. key — the most important part
  24. mouse — for a computer

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