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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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. key — the most important part
  5. bank — for money
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. key — in music
  8. key — for a lock
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. scale — in music
  11. game — a match
  12. rock — a stone
  13. bound — obliged
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bound — certain
  16. pitch — completely
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. scale — size or range
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bank — for money
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rock — music
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bank — of a river

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