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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 116 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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. spring — a coil
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. cap — a hat
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — a trace
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. spring — the season
  11. mate — to breed
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. game — a match
  14. game — wild animals
  15. spring — of water
  16. cap — of ice
  17. mate — a partner
  18. cap — a lid
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. mate — a friend
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — for a lock
  24. mouse — the animal

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