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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. craft — boats
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. key — for a lock
  6. track — to keep track
  7. drill — army training
  8. key — in music
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. track — a song
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. pit — in a race
  14. roll — a cake
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. track — a path
  17. drill — a practice
  18. drill — the tool
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. craft — a skill
  21. key — the most important part
  22. pit — a hole
  23. roll — a list
  24. craft — a handicraft

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