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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.

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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. bark — to shout
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. scale — size or range
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. scale — in music
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. key — the most important part
  23. mark — a trace
  24. mark — to pay attention

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