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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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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. can — a tin
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. can — a tin
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. prune — to trim
  7. cue — a signal
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. can — to be able to
  10. board — to get on
  11. lean — to bend
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. key — for a lock
  16. sharp — clever
  17. cue — for pool
  18. lean — thin
  19. board — a committee
  20. key — the most important part
  21. prune — to trim
  22. cue — a hint
  23. key — in music
  24. board — a flat piece

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