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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. key — the most important part
  3. land — a country
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. charge — in control
  9. march — the month
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. charge — electricity
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. march — the month
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. key — for a lock
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. land — to come down
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. charge — a price
  22. land — ground
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. march — 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