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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. track — a song
  5. track — to keep track
  6. snap — to click
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. key — in music
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. toast — bread
  16. chip — to eat
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. key — the most important part
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. track — a path
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. chip — for betting

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