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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — the most important part
  3. can — to be able to
  4. swing — music
  5. mark — a grade
  6. swing — in golf
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. can — a tin
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. mug — to rob
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. mug — a face
  15. key — in music
  16. drill — army training
  17. swing — to play on
  18. mark — a trace
  19. drill — the tool
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. drill — a practice
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. can — a tin

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