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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — in music
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. key — the most important part
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. saw — the tool
  7. deal — to handle
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. saw — the tool
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. scale — in music
  17. cue — a hint
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. scale — size or range
  20. content — happy
  21. cue — for pool
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. cue — a signal
  24. content — the amount

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