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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: key · mate · dip · drill · toast · saw · suit · net

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. net — in sport
  3. dip — to sink
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. net — for catching
  6. key — the most important part
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. net — after costs
  9. drill — the tool
  10. drill — a practice
  11. key — for a lock
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. saw — the tool
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mate — a partner
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. toast — bread
  18. drill — army training
  19. suit — clothes
  20. key — in music
  21. mate — a friend
  22. suit — in cards
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. mate — to breed

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