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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.

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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. cue — a hint
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. cue — a signal
  6. saw — the tool
  7. key — in music
  8. chip — for betting
  9. mate — a partner
  10. chip — to eat
  11. mate — to breed
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. cue — for pool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. rock — music
  17. ground — crushed
  18. ground — the earth
  19. mate — a friend
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rock — a stone
  23. snap — to click
  24. ground — a position

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