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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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  23. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. key — for a lock
  3. cue — a hint
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. rash — a series
  7. suit — clothes
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. suit — in cards
  11. tear — from crying
  12. key — in music
  13. mate — to breed
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. mate — a partner
  17. key — the most important part
  18. suit — to fit
  19. cue — for pool
  20. date — the fruit
  21. mate — a friend
  22. tear — to rip
  23. tear — from crying
  24. cue — a signal

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