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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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. key — in music
  3. foot — a measure
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pitch — completely
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. key — the most important part
  8. band — a ring
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. dip — to sink
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. key — for a lock
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. band — a music group

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