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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. key — for a lock
  4. pitch — completely
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. stem — to come from
  7. saw — the tool
  8. court — of a king
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. key — in music
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. mate — a partner
  17. court — of law
  18. rush — hurry
  19. mate — to breed
  20. key — the most important part
  21. mate — a friend
  22. court — for sport
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. saw — the tool

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