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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. key — in music
  4. key — for a lock
  5. net — for catching
  6. mate — a friend
  7. net — after costs
  8. saw — the tool
  9. board — a committee
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mate — a partner
  12. net — in sport
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. saw — the tool
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bear — the animal
  19. board — to get on
  20. mate — to breed
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. bear — the animal
  24. key — the most important part

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