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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
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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: band · safe · capital · pop · root · cue · fan · plane

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. plane — a tool
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. capital — money
  6. root — of a plant
  7. root — the cause
  8. cue — a hint
  9. cue — for pool
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. band — a music group
  12. capital — a city
  13. band — a ring
  14. capital — a big letter
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. root — of a word
  17. pop — to visit
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. cue — a signal
  24. pop — soda

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