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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. key — the most important part
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. track — to keep track
  5. bass — the fish
  6. key — in music
  7. game — wild animals
  8. plane — a tool
  9. rush — hurry
  10. track — a path
  11. suit — in cards
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. suit — to fit
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bass — low music
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. key — for a lock
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. game — a match
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. track — a song

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