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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: fall · mark · fine · deal · wound · key · plane · firm

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. key — for a lock
  3. fall — to drop
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. deal — to handle
  7. wound — an injury
  8. plane — a tool
  9. fall — the season
  10. firm — a company
  11. mark — a trace
  12. key — in music
  13. key — the most important part
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. mark — a grade
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. firm — decided
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. fine — high quality
  22. wound — an injury
  23. fall — to drop
  24. firm — steady

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