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

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. key — in music
  3. tube — a container
  4. key — for a lock
  5. land — ground
  6. can — to be able to
  7. land — a country
  8. tube — the underground
  9. press — newspapers
  10. press — to push
  11. can — a tin
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. fine — high quality
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. game — a match
  18. can — a tin
  19. game — wild animals
  20. land — to come down
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. press — a publisher
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — all right

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