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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: plane · vault · clip · pass · toast · branch · scale · mark

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. vault — a safe
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. clip — to cut
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. scale — size or range
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. mark — a grade
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. scale — in music
  14. mark — a trace
  15. clip — for paper
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. pass — a permit
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. toast — bread
  21. branch — a division
  22. clip — a video
  23. plane — a tool
  24. pass — to spend time

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