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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: firm · roll · staff · fine · present · key · hide · bay

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. present — the time now
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. firm — a company
  5. fine — high quality
  6. staff — a stick
  7. present — a gift
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. staff — employees
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. firm — steady
  13. key — the most important part
  14. present — there
  15. roll — a list
  16. key — for a lock
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. firm — decided
  19. key — in music
  20. fine — all right
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. roll — a cake

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