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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 coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. saw — the tool
  3. saw — the tool
  4. key — in music
  5. sharp — clever
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. key — the most important part
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. swing — to play on
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. squash — to crush
  12. suit — in cards
  13. current — of water
  14. current — happening now
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. current — electric
  17. squash — the sport
  18. swing — music
  19. suit — to fit
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. key — for a lock
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. suit — clothes
  24. squash — the vegetable

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