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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. mark — a grade
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. mark — a trace
  7. key — for a lock
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. prune — to trim
  10. key — the most important part
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. bank — for money
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. ball — a dance
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. ball — a great time
  19. key — in music
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bank — for money
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. prune — to trim

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