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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.

Make a worksheet

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: spell · date · rest · spring · leaves · fine · key · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. key — in music
  3. rest — what's left
  4. spring — a coil
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. key — the most important part
  8. rest — a break
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. fine — all right
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. spell — a short time
  15. rest — what's left
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. spell — letters
  18. spell — magic
  19. spring — of water
  20. spring — the season
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. key — for a lock
  23. date — the fruit
  24. fine — high quality

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