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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. key — in music
  3. ball — a dance
  4. charge — electricity
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. present — the time now
  7. sharp — clever
  8. face — to confront
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — the most important part
  12. prune — to trim
  13. charge — in control
  14. present — a gift
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. toast — bread
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. face — part of the head
  19. ball — a great time
  20. face — to point toward
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. charge — a price
  23. prune — to trim
  24. sharp — with an edge

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