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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. scale — size or range
  3. key — the most important part
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. prune — to trim
  6. can — a tin
  7. saw — the tool
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. key — in music
  10. can — a tin
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. can — to be able to
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. key — for a lock
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. saw — the tool
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. rash — a series
  20. foot — a measure
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. scale — in music
  23. rash — hasty
  24. prune — to trim

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