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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. date — the fruit
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — a stone
  6. present — the time now
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. key — for a lock
  13. present — a gift
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. key — in music
  16. rock — music
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bass — low music
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. vault — a safe
  21. present — there
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. bass — the fish
  24. date — on the calendar

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