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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. season — in sport
  5. season — of the year
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. pop — to visit
  8. key — in music
  9. pit — in a race
  10. pop — music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pop — soda
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. key — for a lock
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. plane — a tool
  24. pit — a hole

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