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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. key — the most important part
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. prune — to trim
  7. prune — to trim
  8. vault — a safe
  9. foot — a measure
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. key — in music
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. vault — an arched ceiling

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