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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. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. key — the most important part
  3. suit — to fit
  4. season — of the year
  5. key — in music
  6. rest — a break
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. key — for a lock
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. suit — clothes
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. suit — in cards
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. chest — of your body
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. season — in sport
  18. rest — what's left
  19. bulb — for light
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. perch — the fish
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. chest — of your body

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