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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. fall — to drop
  4. court — for sport
  5. key — the most important part
  6. ground — a position
  7. fall — the season
  8. mug — to rob
  9. court — of a king
  10. court — of law
  11. mug — a cup
  12. track — a path
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. suit — clothes
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. fall — to drop
  17. ground — crushed
  18. track — a song
  19. suit — in cards
  20. key — in music
  21. track — to keep track
  22. ground — the earth
  23. mug — a face
  24. key — for a lock

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