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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. key — the most important part
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. key — for a lock
  7. season — of the year
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. key — in music
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. rash — hasty
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. season — in sport
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. foot — a measure

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