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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: pop · key · jam · foot · bay · club · tube · ground

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. key — for a lock
  3. club — for golf
  4. ground — a position
  5. pop — music
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pop — soda
  9. key — the most important part
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. key — in music
  13. ground — the earth
  14. tube — a container
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. foot — a measure
  17. club — for dancing
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. club — a group
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. ground — crushed
  24. tube — the underground

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