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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. key — in music
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. ground — a position
  5. mate — a friend
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. key — for a lock
  8. foot — a measure
  9. mark — a grade
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. mark — a trace
  12. mate — a partner
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bass — the fish
  16. ground — the earth
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bass — low music
  22. mate — to breed
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. ground — crushed

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