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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. board — to get on
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. net — in sport
  6. mine — for digging
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. deal — to handle
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. net — for catching
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — clever
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. net — after costs
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. snap — to click
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. board — a committee

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