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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. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. field — for sport
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. key — in music
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — to be able to
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. key — for a lock
  10. present — the time now
  11. can — a tin
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. present — a gift
  14. present — there
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. plane — a tool
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. field — a subject
  19. toast — bread
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. field — farmland
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. pitcher — a jug

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