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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: mate · season · mug · roll · key · staff · pop · pass

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. key — for a lock
  3. key — the most important part
  4. mug — to rob
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mate — a friend
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. season — of the year
  9. roll — a cake
  10. staff — employees
  11. key — in music
  12. staff — a stick
  13. mug — a cup
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. staff — employees
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. pop — soda
  18. season — in sport
  19. pass — a permit
  20. pop — music
  21. pop — to visit
  22. mug — a face
  23. roll — a list
  24. mate — to breed

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