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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. rash — a series
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. rush — hurry
  9. current — of water
  10. can — a tin
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. key — in music
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — electric
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. can — a tin
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pitch — completely
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. rash — hasty
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. can — to be able to

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