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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. object — a thing
  3. mark — a grade
  4. mark — a trace
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. object — to protest
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. key — the most important part
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. land — a country
  12. object — an aim
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pass — a permit
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. land — to come down
  18. key — for a lock
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. saw — the tool
  21. key — in music
  22. land — ground
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. calf — a young animal

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