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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. toast — bread
  3. roll — a list
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. march — the month
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. roll — a cake
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. march — the month
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. pass — a permit
  15. march — music
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. tube — a container
  20. key — the most important part
  21. key — in music
  22. tube — the underground
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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