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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. mate — a friend
  3. capital — a city
  4. cue — for pool
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. cue — a hint
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. key — the most important part
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. key — in music
  14. capital — money
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. mate — a partner
  17. key — for a lock
  18. foot — a measure
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. lie — to recline
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. mate — to breed
  23. cue — a signal
  24. kick — a thrill

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