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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
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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: staff · key · sharp · bear · rash · mug · pop · arm

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. bear — the animal
  4. key — the most important part
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. pop — to visit
  7. sharp — clever
  8. staff — employees
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. key — for a lock
  11. rash — a series
  12. mug — a face
  13. staff — employees
  14. rash — hasty
  15. key — in music
  16. staff — a stick
  17. mug — a cup
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. pop — soda
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. pop — music
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. bear — the animal

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