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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
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: toast · object · wake · key · ball · sharp · cabinet · perch

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. sharp — clever
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. object — a thing
  9. ball — a dance
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. object — an aim
  16. key — the most important part
  17. ball — a great time
  18. wake — a trail
  19. toast — bread
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. object — to protest
  22. perch — the fish
  23. key — for a lock
  24. key — in music

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