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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. cue — a signal
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. row — to paddle
  5. band — a ring
  6. rock — music
  7. key — for a lock
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. rock — a stone
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. band — a music group
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. toast — bread
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. row — a line
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. cue — for pool
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. key — in music
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. cue — a hint

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