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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. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. vault — a safe
  3. firm — steady
  4. stand — to bear
  5. board — to get on
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stock — goods
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. stock — shares
  11. key — in music
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. board — a committee
  14. wound — an injury
  15. key — for a lock
  16. wound — an injury
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. firm — a company
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. firm — decided
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. stand — for spectators

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