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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. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. perch — the fish
  3. chest — a box
  4. mate — a friend
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. key — for a lock
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. cue — a hint
  10. key — in music
  11. net — in sport
  12. mate — to breed
  13. chest — of your body
  14. scale — size or range
  15. net — for catching
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. scale — in music
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. key — the most important part
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cue — a signal
  22. mate — a partner
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. net — after costs

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