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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 116 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. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. kick — in football
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. current — of water
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. bark — to shout
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. chip — to eat
  13. saw — the tool
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — for a lock
  17. chip — for betting
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — electric
  20. saw — the tool
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. key — in music
  24. chip — in a computer

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