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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 got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. firm — a company
  3. saw — the tool
  4. pit — in a race
  5. saw — the tool
  6. toast — bread
  7. key — the most important part
  8. stem — to come from
  9. firm — steady
  10. pit — a hole
  11. key — for a lock
  12. hand — help
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. firm — decided
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. key — in music
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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