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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. plane — a tool
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. bass — the fish
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. pound — a weight
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. net — for catching
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. net — in sport
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. toast — bread
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. key — for a lock
  19. foot — a measure
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bass — low music
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. net — after costs
  24. key — in music

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