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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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Word bank
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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. pop — music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. pitch — completely
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. spell — letters
  8. ball — a dance
  9. lie — to recline
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. pop — to visit
  12. date — the fruit
  13. ball — a great time
  14. spell — a short time
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. pop — soda
  21. key — in music
  22. spell — magic
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. racket — for tennis

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