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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 can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. key — for a lock
  3. season — of the year
  4. lean — to bend
  5. rest — a break
  6. key — in music
  7. cue — a signal
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. cue — a hint
  10. mark — a trace
  11. key — the most important part
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. roll — a cake
  14. mark — a grade
  15. rest — what's left
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. season — in sport
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. toast — bread
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. rest — what's left
  23. roll — a list
  24. lean — thin

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