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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: toast · pit · pop · key · face · calf · stock · plane

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. pop — music
  5. face — to point toward
  6. pit — a hole
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. pit — in a race
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. face — to confront
  13. toast — bread
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. key — for a lock
  16. key — in music
  17. plane — a tool
  18. key — the most important part
  19. stock — goods
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. face — part of the head
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. stock — shares
  24. pop — to visit

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