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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. deal — to handle
  3. key — for a lock
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. file — a document
  8. cue — a hint
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. cue — for pool
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. key — in music
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. sharp — clever
  18. stand — to bear
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. file — a tool
  21. file — a line of people
  22. cue — a signal
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. key — the most important part

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