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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: spell · key · plane · safe · dip · pop · toast · wax

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. toast — bread
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. key — for a lock
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. pop — music
  7. spell — letters
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wax — to grow
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. spell — a short time
  14. pop — to visit
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. pop — soda
  17. key — the most important part
  18. spell — magic
  19. dip — to sink
  20. key — in music
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. dip — to dunk

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