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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: mouse · pitcher · bay · key · game · rest · toast · object

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. toast — bread
  3. rest — a break
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. rest — what's left
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. object — to protest
  14. key — in music
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. key — the most important part
  17. game — wild animals
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rest — what's left
  21. object — an aim
  22. game — a match
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. pitcher — a jug

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