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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — in music
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. plane — a tool
  6. prune — to trim
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. spell — magic
  9. spell — a short time
  10. current — electric
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. key — the most important part
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. prune — to trim
  16. face — to point toward
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. current — happening now
  20. face — part of the head
  21. spell — letters
  22. current — of water
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. face — to confront

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