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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 party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bore — to drill
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. rash — hasty
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bank — of a river
  7. cue — for pool
  8. bore — to tire
  9. key — the most important part
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. cue — a signal
  12. key — for a lock
  13. bank — for money
  14. key — in music
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. scale — size or range
  19. sharp — clever
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. cue — a hint
  22. scale — in music
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bank — for money

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