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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 120 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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. pop — music
  5. key — in music
  6. mark — a grade
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a trace
  11. spell — a short time
  12. snap — to click
  13. key — for a lock
  14. spell — magic
  15. squash — the sport
  16. pop — soda
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. key — the most important part
  20. pop — to visit
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. spell — letters
  24. safe — out of danger

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