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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. staff — a stick
  3. cap — of ice
  4. pass — a permit
  5. key — for a lock
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. key — the most important part
  9. cap — a lid
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. chest — a box
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. staff — employees
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. chest — of your body
  17. cap — a hat
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. staff — employees
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. chest — of your body

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