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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. prune — to trim
  3. key — for a lock
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pop — to visit
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. key — in music
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bear — the animal
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. pop — music
  13. bear — the animal
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. prune — to trim
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. key — the most important part
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. racket — for tennis

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