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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. mug — a face
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mug — a cup
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. court — of a king
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. key — in music
  9. key — the most important part
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pitch — completely
  12. court — for sport
  13. court — of law
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bound — certain
  17. key — for a lock
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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