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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: cap · sharp · fine · spell · bore · key · jam · rush

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. spell — letters
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bore — to tire
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. fine — high quality
  10. rush — hurry
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. cap — of ice
  15. fine — all right
  16. cap — a lid
  17. sharp — clever
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bore — to drill
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. cap — a hat
  24. spell — magic

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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