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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. tube — the underground
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. tube — a container
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. season — in sport
  8. key — in music
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. rock — music
  13. sharp — clever
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. rock — a stone
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. key — for a lock
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. season — of the year
  22. deal — to handle
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. key — the most important part

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