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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. key — for a lock
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. fine — all right
  9. net — in sport
  10. foot — a measure
  11. stem — to come from
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. saw — the tool
  14. fine — high quality
  15. key — the most important part
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. squash — the sport
  18. saw — the tool
  19. net — for catching
  20. squash — to crush
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. key — in music
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. net — after costs

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