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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. rock — a stone
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. key — for a lock
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. ground — the earth
  12. staff — employees
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. bark — to shout
  16. pass — a permit
  17. staff — a stick
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. ground — a position
  20. ground — crushed
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rock — music
  23. staff — employees
  24. nail — for a hammer

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