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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. staff — a stick
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. mug — a face
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. staff — employees
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. key — in music
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. can — a tin
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. mug — to rob
  16. staff — employees
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. can — a tin
  20. pass — a permit
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mug — a cup
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. bark — to shout

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