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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bear — the animal
  3. key — the most important part
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. key — in music
  7. key — for a lock
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bear — the animal
  10. net — in sport
  11. bank — of a river
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. rush — hurry
  14. net — for catching
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bank — for money
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. net — after costs
  24. bank — for money

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