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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. mug — to rob
  4. key — the most important part
  5. degree — from a university
  6. mate — to breed
  7. degree — temperature
  8. ground — a position
  9. saw — the tool
  10. key — for a lock
  11. suit — in cards
  12. mate — a partner
  13. bear — the animal
  14. suit — to fit
  15. bear — the animal
  16. degree — an amount
  17. ground — crushed
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. key — in music
  21. suit — clothes
  22. saw — the tool
  23. ground — the earth
  24. mate — a friend

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