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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. pop — soda
  3. object — an aim
  4. swing — in golf
  5. key — the most important part
  6. pitch — completely
  7. object — to protest
  8. pop — to visit
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. object — a thing
  11. net — in sport
  12. net — for catching
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. swing — music
  15. key — in music
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. net — after costs
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. swing — to play on
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. pop — music
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — hurry

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