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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. key — in music
  3. pass — a permit
  4. kick — in football
  5. march — music
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. key — for a lock
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. march — the month
  14. sharp — clever
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. key — the most important part
  17. wake — a trail
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. march — the month

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