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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — in music
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. bore — gave birth
  5. march — the month
  6. staff — a stick
  7. key — the most important part
  8. bank — of a river
  9. march — the month
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. lie — to recline
  12. staff — employees
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. bank — for money
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bore — to tire
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. march — music
  21. bore — to drill
  22. bank — for money
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. staff — employees

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