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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. wound — an injury
  3. fine — all right
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. key — for a lock
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. fine — high quality
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. prune — to trim
  15. key — the most important part
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. wound — an injury
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. prune — to trim
  24. toast — bread

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