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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — the most important part
  3. rest — what's left
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. key — in music
  12. bark — to shout
  13. rest — a break
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. rest — what's left
  16. bulb — for light
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bulb — for light
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. chair — a leader
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bulb — of a plant

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