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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 116 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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ball is in your ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — a grade
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. bank — for money
  5. pit — a hole
  6. ball — a dance
  7. court — of law
  8. ball — a great time
  9. march — music
  10. march — the month
  11. key — in music
  12. court — for sport
  13. key — for a lock
  14. prune — to trim
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bank — of a river
  17. march — the month
  18. court — of a king
  19. prune — to trim
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. pit — in a race
  22. bank — for money
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. key — the most important part

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