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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.

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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: bass · rule · last · chip · plane · rock · key · can

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. last — finally
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. rock — music
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. key — in music
  11. chip — to eat
  12. can — a tin
  13. rule — to rule out
  14. last — to go on
  15. rule — a law
  16. bass — low music
  17. key — for a lock
  18. rock — a stone
  19. plane — a tool
  20. bass — the fish
  21. rule — government
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. key — the most important part
  24. last — final

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