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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. scale — in music
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. key — in music
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. mate — to breed
  9. key — the most important part
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. scale — size or range
  13. spell — a short time
  14. mate — a partner
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. mate — a friend
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. spell — letters
  22. spell — magic
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. bowl — a dish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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