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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. key — the most important part
  3. mark — a trace
  4. wound — an injury
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mark — a grade
  10. bulb — for light
  11. wound — an injury
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. pop — music
  14. press — to push
  15. press — newspapers
  16. key — in music
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. pop — soda
  19. sharp — clever
  20. press — a publisher
  21. pop — to visit
  22. bulb — for light
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. key — for a lock

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