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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. rock — a stone
  4. deal — to handle
  5. firm — a company
  6. scale — in music
  7. degree — an amount
  8. firm — steady
  9. key — the most important part
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. mug — a face
  12. key — in music
  13. degree — temperature
  14. saw — the tool
  15. degree — from a university
  16. mug — to rob
  17. firm — decided
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. mug — a cup
  20. scale — size or range
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. saw — the tool
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. rock — music

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