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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. key — the most important part
  3. key — in music
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. tube — a container
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. key — for a lock
  12. tube — the underground
  13. cue — for pool
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. pass — a permit
  16. plane — a tool
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cue — a hint
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. rock — a stone
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. rock — music

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