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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 116 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: key · cue · vault · land · plane · bowl · fine · deal

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. deal — to handle
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. fine — all right
  6. cue — for pool
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. key — for a lock
  9. cue — a signal
  10. key — in music
  11. land — ground
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. land — to come down
  14. plane — a tool
  15. vault — a safe
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. key — the most important part
  19. land — a country
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bowl — a dish

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