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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. toast — bread
  4. season — in sport
  5. scale — in music
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. bass — low music
  8. bass — the fish
  9. scale — size or range
  10. key — the most important part
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. season — of the year
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mug — a cup
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. key — in music
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. mug — a face
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. key — for a lock

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