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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. foot — a measure
  3. key — in music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pitch — completely
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. key — for a lock
  11. can — to be able to
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. lie — to recline
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. can — a tin
  20. perch — the fish
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. foot — the bottom

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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