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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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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: roll · bore · kid · rock · deal · key · season · stick

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. roll — a cake
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. season — in sport
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. key — for a lock
  8. season — of the year
  9. kid — to tease
  10. rock — a stone
  11. bore — to drill
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. roll — a list
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. key — the most important part
  17. bore — to tire
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. kid — child
  20. rock — music
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. deal — to handle
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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