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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. key — for a lock
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. stock — shares
  8. key — in music
  9. foot — a measure
  10. pass — a permit
  11. wound — an injury
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. key — the most important part
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. stock — goods
  17. pop — music
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rush — hurry
  22. pop — to visit
  23. wound — an injury
  24. pop — soda

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