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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.

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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. tube — the underground
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. rash — hasty
  5. key — in music
  6. can — a tin
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rash — a series
  9. firm — a company
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. shower — to wash
  12. firm — decided
  13. shower — rain
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. firm — steady
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. mark — a grade
  19. tube — a container
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. key — the most important part
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. mark — a trace

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