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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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. pit — in a race
  3. toast — bread
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mark — a trace
  6. staff — a stick
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. staff — employees
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. pit — a hole
  14. content — happy
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. content — the amount
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. key — the most important part
  19. staff — employees
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. mark — a grade
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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