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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. key — in music
  4. object — an aim
  5. key — for a lock
  6. roll — a list
  7. track — to keep track
  8. pit — in a race
  9. tube — a container
  10. can — to be able to
  11. track — a song
  12. can — a tin
  13. object — to protest
  14. key — the most important part
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. pit — a hole
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. roll — a cake
  19. tube — the underground
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. can — a tin
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. track — a path

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