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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. key — for a lock
  3. present — the time now
  4. key — the most important part
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. sharp — clever
  9. present — there
  10. bank — for money
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bank — for money
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. foot — a measure
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. present — a gift
  21. key — in music
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bank — of a river
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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