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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: plane · safe · key · stock · present · branch · pass · pitcher

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. pass — a permit
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. present — there
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stock — shares
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. plane — a tool
  11. branch — a division
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. present — a gift
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — in music
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. key — for a lock
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. stock — goods

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