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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. key — for a lock
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. band — a ring
  6. key — the most important part
  7. charge — electricity
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. pitch — completely
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. charge — in control
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. band — a music group
  19. charge — a price
  20. key — in music
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. lie — to recline

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