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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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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. key — for a lock
  4. game — a match
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. game — wild animals
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. cap — a lid
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. current — electric
  13. cap — of ice
  14. key — in music
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. current — of water
  17. current — happening now
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. deal — to handle
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. cap — a hat
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. foot — a measure
  24. ruler — a monarch

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