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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. bore — to tire
  3. track — a song
  4. staff — employees
  5. key — in music
  6. bore — to drill
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. track — to keep track
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. bulb — for light
  17. chip — to eat
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. lean — to bend
  20. lean — thin
  21. staff — employees
  22. chip — for betting
  23. track — a path
  24. staff — a stick

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