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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 old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. pitch — completely
  4. suit — clothes
  5. key — for a lock
  6. prune — to trim
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. prune — to trim
  10. suit — in cards
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. key — the most important part
  13. key — in music
  14. staff — employees
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. suit — to fit
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — to recline
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. staff — employees
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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