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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. firm — steady
  3. firm — a company
  4. date — the fruit
  5. suit — to fit
  6. suit — clothes
  7. firm — decided
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. key — for a lock
  21. key — in music
  22. key — the most important part
  23. squash — the sport
  24. squash — to crush

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