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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. spell — magic
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. can — to be able to
  6. key — for a lock
  7. spell — a short time
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. can — a tin
  10. cue — a hint
  11. toast — bread
  12. chip — to eat
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. key — in music
  15. lie — to recline
  16. key — the most important part
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. cue — a signal
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. cue — for pool
  21. date — the fruit
  22. chip — for betting
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. spell — letters

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