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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. cue — for pool
  3. spell — magic
  4. cap — of ice
  5. march — the month
  6. cap — a lid
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. stand — to bear
  10. cue — a hint
  11. key — for a lock
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — letters
  14. march — the month
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. cap — a hat
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. key — the most important part
  20. march — music
  21. cue — a signal
  22. deal — to handle
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. deal — a big deal

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