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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. key — the most important part
  4. key — in music
  5. key — for a lock
  6. wave — with your hand
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. pop — music
  9. prune — to trim
  10. mug — to rob
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. prune — to trim
  13. pop — to visit
  14. mate — a partner
  15. mug — a cup
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mate — to breed
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. mug — a face
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. fork — in a road

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