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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: lean · nail · season · key · hide · rash · march · ruler

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. march — the month
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. season — in sport
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. lean — thin
  9. lean — to bend
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. rash — a series
  12. march — music
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. key — for a lock
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. march — the month
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. key — in music
  22. rash — hasty
  23. season — of the year
  24. hide — to keep secret

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