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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. key — for a lock
  3. pass — a permit
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. rush — hurry
  7. kid — child
  8. current — electric
  9. key — in music
  10. toast — bread
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. kid — to tease
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. key — the most important part
  24. toast — the most admired

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