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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 116 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: lie · chip · plane · key · coach · ground · cue · bore

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. cue — a hint
  3. key — the most important part
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. key — in music
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. lie — to recline
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. bore — to drill
  14. cue — a signal
  15. cue — for pool
  16. plane — a tool
  17. ground — the earth
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. bore — to tire
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. ground — a position
  22. chip — for betting
  23. key — for a lock
  24. ground — crushed

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