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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 120 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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. rash — hasty
  3. foot — a measure
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. mark — a grade
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. key — the most important part
  8. key — in music
  9. bore — to tire
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bore — to drill
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. rash — a series
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. fine — all right
  23. mark — a trace
  24. fine — high quality

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