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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rest — what's left
  3. pop — music
  4. key — in music
  5. chest — of your body
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rest — a break
  8. lean — to bend
  9. staff — a stick
  10. rest — what's left
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. staff — employees
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. chest — a box
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. lean — thin
  17. pop — soda
  18. staff — employees
  19. rock — a stone
  20. key — the most important part
  21. rock — music
  22. chest — of your body
  23. pop — to visit
  24. key — for a lock

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