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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 116 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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. deal — to handle
  3. key — the most important part
  4. stem — to come from
  5. key — for a lock
  6. court — of law
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. court — of a king
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. spring — of water
  14. spring — a coil
  15. suit — to fit
  16. key — in music
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. saw — the tool
  19. suit — in cards
  20. saw — the tool
  21. court — for sport
  22. spring — the season
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. suit — clothes

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