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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: nail · key · wound · mug · foot · content · fine · suit

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  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. nail — for a hammer
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. fine — all right
  5. key — the most important part
  6. fine — high quality
  7. wound — an injury
  8. key — in music
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. mug — a cup
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mug — a face
  16. key — for a lock
  17. suit — clothes
  18. suit — in cards
  19. content — happy
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. foot — a measure
  22. mug — to rob
  23. nail — on a finger
  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