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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: suit · key · dip · wound · can · rest · coach · pass

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. key — the most important part
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. wound — an injury
  6. pass — a permit
  7. suit — in cards
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. dip — to sink
  12. rest — what's left
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. key — in music
  15. wound — an injury
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. suit — to fit
  20. rest — a break
  21. key — for a lock
  22. suit — clothes
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rest — what's left

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