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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 124 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.

Make a worksheet

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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. suit — clothes
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. key — for a lock
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — tied together
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bound — obliged
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. suit — to fit
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. key — the most important part
  16. suit — in cards
  17. squash — to crush
  18. key — in music
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. toast — bread
  24. fan — a supporter

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