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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.

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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. board — to get on
  3. fine — high quality
  4. club — for dancing
  5. club — for golf
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. board — a committee
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. mark — a grade
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. key — the most important part
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rush — hurry
  17. fine — all right
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. key — in music
  23. mark — a trace
  24. club — a group

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