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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. net — after costs
  5. suit — clothes
  6. suit — to fit
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. prune — to trim
  9. net — in sport
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. key — the most important part
  13. key — in music
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. suit — in cards
  21. prune — to trim
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. key — for a lock

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