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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. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. hand — in cards
  3. prune — to trim
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. prune — to trim
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. toast — bread
  8. mate — to breed
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. key — for a lock
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. hand — help
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mate — a partner
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. key — in music
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. mate — a friend
  24. key — the most important part

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