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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. track — to keep track
  4. capital — a big letter
  5. date — the fruit
  6. key — in music
  7. firm — steady
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. capital — a city
  10. key — the most important part
  11. capital — money
  12. firm — a company
  13. mug — a face
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. mug — to rob
  16. wake — a trail
  17. key — for a lock
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. track — a song
  20. track — a path
  21. mug — a cup
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. firm — decided
  24. cabinet — ministers

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