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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: cabinet · perch · jam · dip · leaves · toast · key · bass

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. dip — to sink
  3. perch — the fish
  4. key — in music
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bass — the fish
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. toast — bread
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bass — low music
  24. leaves — lets stay

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