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

Word bank: dip · pass · wake · toast · staff · kick · key · mate

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. wake — a trail
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. mate — a partner
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. staff — a stick
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. key — in music
  10. key — the most important part
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. dip — to sink
  14. mate — a friend
  15. staff — employees
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. pass — a permit
  18. kick — in football
  19. key — for a lock
  20. mate — to breed
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. toast — bread
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. kick — a thrill

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