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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 120 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
468
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: chair · plane · safe · ball · court · bank · key · hand

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. hand — help
  3. ball — a dance
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. bank — for money
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. hand — in cards
  9. court — of law
  10. court — of a king
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bank — for money
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. key — for a lock
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. chair — a leader
  18. plane — a tool
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. court — for sport
  21. key — the most important part
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. key — in music
  24. bank — of a river

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