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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pass — a permit
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. key — in music
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. lie — to recline
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. key — for a lock
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. rash — a series
  24. rash — hasty

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