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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: rest · court · prune · mouse · key · rock · toast · pass

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. court — for sport
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rest — what's left
  8. key — for a lock
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. court — of a king
  11. rest — a break
  12. prune — to trim
  13. rock — music
  14. key — the most important part
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. key — in music
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. pass — a permit
  19. court — of law
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. prune — to trim
  22. rest — what's left
  23. toast — bread
  24. toast — the most admired

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