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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 120 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  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 — in music
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. board — to get on
  9. net — after costs
  10. foot — a measure
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. net — for catching
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. key — the most important part
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. branch — a division
  21. net — in sport
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. key — for a lock
  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