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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. pitch — completely
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bass — the fish
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. key — for a lock
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. bass — low music
  21. plane — a tool
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. key — the most important part
  24. toast — bread

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