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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. key — for a lock
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. lie — to recline
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. toast — bread
  13. craft — a skill
  14. content — the amount
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. content — happy
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. key — the most important part
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. craft — boats
  22. key — in music
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. racket — a loud noise

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