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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: mark · land · root · plane · rush · bay · nail · key

  1. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — in geometry
  2. rush — hurry
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. land — a country
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. plane — a tool
  7. land — to come down
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a plant
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. mark — a trace
  16. key — for a lock
  17. key — in music
  18. key — the most important part
  19. land — ground
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. root — of a word
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. mark — a grade
  24. mark — to pay attention

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