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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. date — the fruit
  3. can — a tin
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bass — low music
  7. wound — an injury
  8. cue — a hint
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. can — a tin
  11. cue — for pool
  12. roll — a cake
  13. suit — clothes
  14. can — to be able to
  15. roll — a list
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. cue — a signal
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. bass — the fish
  20. key — in music
  21. suit — in cards
  22. key — for a lock
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. key — the most important part

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