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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 120 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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. key — in music
  3. staff — employees
  4. staff — a stick
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. pop — music
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. row — a line
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. row — to paddle
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. bear — the animal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. staff — employees
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. pop — soda
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. pop — to visit
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bear — the 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