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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. key — the most important part
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. mug — a cup
  6. wake — a trail
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. key — in music
  10. key — for a lock
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. squash — the sport
  13. can — a tin
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. squash — to crush
  17. mug — to rob
  18. can — a tin
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. ruler — for measuring

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