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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 116 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. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. can — a tin
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rest — what's left
  6. season — in sport
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. rest — what's left
  9. sharp — clever
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. pitch — completely
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. plane — a tool
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. key — in music
  22. key — the most important part
  23. season — of the year
  24. sharp — exactly

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