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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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. board — a committee
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. key — in music
  12. rash — a series
  13. rash — hasty
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. wax — to grow
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. charge — in control
  20. board — to get on
  21. charge — a price
  22. charge — electricity
  23. key — for a lock
  24. pitch — completely

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