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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. staff — employees
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. kick — in football
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. key — for a lock
  7. can — a tin
  8. pitch — completely
  9. rush — hurry
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. staff — employees
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. key — the most important part
  15. staff — a stick
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. can — a tin
  18. sharp — clever
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. plane — a tool
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. can — to be able to
  24. sharp — with an edge

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