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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. march — the month
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bound — tied together
  11. date — the fruit
  12. mug — a cup
  13. march — the month
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. key — in music
  16. bound — certain
  17. kick — in football
  18. mug — a face
  19. mug — to rob
  20. rush — hurry
  21. bound — obliged
  22. march — music
  23. key — for a lock
  24. mouse — the animal

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