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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: present · spell · sharp · fine · key · lean · mouse · wind

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. spell — a short time
  4. lean — to bend
  5. sharp — clever
  6. present — there
  7. spell — letters
  8. present — a gift
  9. fine — all right
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. key — for a lock
  12. spell — magic
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. lean — to rest against
  15. key — in music
  16. present — the time now
  17. wind — moving air
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. lean — thin
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. wind — moving air
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. fine — high quality
  24. key — the most important part

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