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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.

Make a worksheet

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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. chest — of your body
  6. spring — of water
  7. chest — of your body
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. spring — the season
  11. suit — in cards
  12. key — for a lock
  13. can — to be able to
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. suit — to fit
  16. key — the most important part
  17. spring — a coil
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — the fish
  20. chest — a box
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. suit — clothes

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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