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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. net — for catching
  3. key — for a lock
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. rock — music
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. board — a committee
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. key — the most important part
  15. net — after costs
  16. key — in music
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. snap — to click
  21. rock — a stone
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. board — to get on
  24. net — in sport

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