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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.

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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — the most important part
  3. key — in music
  4. mug — a face
  5. mark — a grade
  6. wake — a trail
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. roll — a cake
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mug — to rob
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. track — to keep track
  14. toast — bread
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. track — a path
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. track — a song
  20. roll — a list
  21. mark — a trace
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. mug — a cup
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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