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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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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. key — for a lock
  3. pop — soda
  4. pitch — completely
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. spring — a coil
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. pass — a permit
  9. spring — the season
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. key — the most important part
  12. spring — of water
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. key — in music
  16. pop — to visit
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. lash — to lash out

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