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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. board — a committee
  3. rock — a stone
  4. fine — all right
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. lean — thin
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a face
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. deal — to handle
  12. lean — to bend
  13. rock — music
  14. key — in music
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. board — to get on
  18. stem — to come from
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. mug — a cup
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. key — the most important part
  24. fine — high quality

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