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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. key — for a lock
  4. staff — a stick
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. staff — employees
  8. rash — a series
  9. pit — a hole
  10. pit — in a race
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. saw — the tool
  20. key — in music
  21. key — the most important part
  22. rash — hasty
  23. staff — employees
  24. coach — a trainer

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