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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. rock — music
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bass — the fish
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. key — the most important part
  9. rock — a stone
  10. foot — a measure
  11. object — an aim
  12. object — to protest
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. ball — a great time
  15. rash — hasty
  16. key — in music
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. rash — a series
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. object — a thing
  23. bass — low music
  24. bay — a part of the sea

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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