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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: stick · toast · ground · spell · fine · key · nail · arm

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. ground — a position
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. key — for a lock
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. spell — letters
  10. fine — high quality
  11. spell — magic
  12. fine — all right
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. toast — bread
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. key — the most important part
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. ground — crushed
  21. spell — a short time
  22. key — in music
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. arm — part of the body

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