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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  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. safe — out of danger
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. staff — employees
  4. key — for a lock
  5. club — for dancing
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. press — a publisher
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. suit — in cards
  12. press — to push
  13. staff — a stick
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. club — a group
  16. key — the most important part
  17. key — in music
  18. press — newspapers
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. club — for golf
  21. suit — to fit
  22. straw — dry grass
  23. suit — clothes
  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