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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.

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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 · key · bank · cell · squash · pass · prune · pitcher

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. bank — of a river
  6. plane — a tool
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. squash — to crush
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. prune — to trim
  13. cell — a phone
  14. prune — to trim
  15. cell — in biology
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. key — the most important part
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. squash — the sport
  21. bank — for money
  22. key — for a lock
  23. key — in music
  24. bank — for money

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