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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: bowl · stick · firm · season · bear · rock · key · arm

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. key — the most important part
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. season — of the year
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. bear — the animal
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. bear — the animal
  12. key — for a lock
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. key — in music
  16. season — in sport
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. firm — steady
  19. rock — music
  20. rock — a stone
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. firm — a company
  24. arm — part of the body

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