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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. key — in music
  3. rest — what's left
  4. saw — the tool
  5. object — an aim
  6. key — the most important part
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pass — a permit
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. object — to protest
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. rest — what's left
  18. plane — a tool
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. object — a thing
  21. key — for a lock
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. rest — a break
  24. bulb — for light

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