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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. lie — to recline
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. game — wild animals
  6. key — the most important part
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. rock — a stone
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — music
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. pitch — completely
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. bass — low music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. dip — to sink
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. game — a match
  24. bass — the fish

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