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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: key · lean · saw · suit · can · bear · race · pitcher

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. saw — the tool
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. suit — to fit
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. lean — thin
  9. saw — the tool
  10. lean — to bend
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. key — in music
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. key — the most important part
  15. race — humankind
  16. race — the arms race
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. bear — the animal
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. suit — in cards
  21. race — a contest
  22. key — for a lock
  23. suit — clothes
  24. can — to be able to

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