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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 thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The ________________ market has crashed.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. spring — the season
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. spring — a coil
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. stock — goods
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. file — a document
  11. key — the most important part
  12. stock — shares
  13. file — a line of people
  14. key — in music
  15. last — finally
  16. last — to go on
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. last — final
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. spring — of water
  22. file — a tool
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. key — for a lock

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