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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: nail · dip · plane · bank · key · ball · court · wind

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. court — for sport
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. court — of a king
  7. dip — to sink
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. plane — a tool
  10. bank — for money
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. wind — moving air
  13. court — of law
  14. ball — a great time
  15. key — for a lock
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bank — of a river
  21. wind — moving air
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bank — for money
  24. key — in music

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