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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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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: key · lie · bay · file · deal · pitcher · rock · ruler

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. rock — music
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. file — a line of people
  7. lie — to recline
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — to handle
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. key — the most important part
  13. rock — a stone
  14. file — a document
  15. key — in music
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. file — a tool
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. key — for a lock

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