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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. bank — of a river
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. net — in sport
  5. rock — a stone
  6. net — after costs
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. club — for dancing
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — letters
  12. net — for catching
  13. bank — for money
  14. spell — magic
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. key — in music
  17. bank — for money
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. club — for golf
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. club — a group
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rock — music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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