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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  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. key — the most important part
  2. staff — employees
  3. staff — employees
  4. bass — the fish
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. staff — a stick
  7. mate — to breed
  8. key — in music
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rock — a stone
  14. dip — to sink
  15. rock — music
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. bass — low music
  18. mate — a friend
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. prune — to trim
  22. mate — a partner
  23. prune — to trim
  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