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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. board — to get on
  5. board — a committee
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. cue — a hint
  8. staff — employees
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. mine — for digging
  11. snap — to click
  12. staff — a stick
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. cue — for pool
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. staff — employees
  19. key — in music
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cue — a signal
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. key — the most important part
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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