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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. degree — temperature
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bear — the animal
  5. fine — all right
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. fine — high quality
  9. key — in music
  10. degree — an amount
  11. current — happening now
  12. suit — in cards
  13. current — of water
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. degree — from a university
  16. suit — to fit
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. current — electric
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. rash — hasty
  21. rash — a series
  22. key — the most important part
  23. suit — clothes
  24. jam — a tight spot

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