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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. mug — a face
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. march — the month
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. mug — a cup
  7. pitch — completely
  8. dip — to sink
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. key — in music
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. sharp — clever
  14. key — the most important part
  15. key — for a lock
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. march — music
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. march — the month
  24. mug — to rob

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