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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. pop — soda
  3. pop — music
  4. lean — to bend
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. stock — shares
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. suit — to fit
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. season — in sport
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. lean — thin
  14. key — for a lock
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. suit — in cards
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. pop — to visit
  19. stock — goods
  20. wake — a trail
  21. season — of the year
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. key — the most important part
  24. suit — clothes

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