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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: ground · plane · trunk · key · jam · rock · bass · safe

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. key — in music
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. rock — music
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. ground — the earth
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bass — the fish
  16. rock — a stone
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. ground — a position
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bass — low music
  23. safe — out of danger
  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