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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: key · toast · current · season · dip · straw · deal · rule

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. key — for a lock
  3. key — the most important part
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. current — of water
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. deal — to handle
  11. current — happening now
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. toast — bread
  17. key — in music
  18. season — of the year
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. current — electric
  21. rule — a law
  22. rule — government
  23. season — in sport
  24. dip — a sauce

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