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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 120 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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. can — a tin
  4. fine — all right
  5. mate — a friend
  6. pit — a hole
  7. root — of a word
  8. root — the cause
  9. pit — in a race
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. key — in music
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. fine — high quality
  16. key — the most important part
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bear — the animal
  19. foot — a measure
  20. root — of a plant
  21. mate — to breed
  22. mate — a partner
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. key — for a lock

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