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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. key — in music
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. object — to protest
  5. mug — a cup
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. object — an aim
  9. face — part of the head
  10. face — to point toward
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. key — the most important part
  14. cue — for pool
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. sharp — clever
  17. mug — to rob
  18. object — a thing
  19. cue — a signal
  20. face — to confront
  21. key — for a lock
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mug — a face
  24. nail — for a hammer

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