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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 116 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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. rush — hurry
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. can — a tin
  6. key — in music
  7. suit — in cards
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mug — a face
  10. wake — a trail
  11. fine — high quality
  12. key — the most important part
  13. suit — to fit
  14. scale — in music
  15. scale — size or range
  16. can — a tin
  17. mug — a cup
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mug — to rob
  20. fine — all right
  21. can — to be able to
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. scale — for weighing

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