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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. bat — for baseball
  5. toast — bread
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. club — for dancing
  9. rock — a stone
  10. club — a group
  11. club — for golf
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bat — the animal
  16. cue — for pool
  17. key — in music
  18. cue — a signal
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. wake — a trail
  22. rock — music
  23. cue — a hint
  24. bat — in an idiom

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