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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 116 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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. key — in music
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. rush — hurry
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. key — the most important part
  8. firm — decided
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. content — the amount
  11. key — for a lock
  12. firm — steady
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. firm — a company
  15. pop — soda
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. pop — to visit
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. content — happy
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. mine — for digging

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