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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 116 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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. key — in music
  4. track — a song
  5. bank — for money
  6. kid — child
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. kid — to tease
  9. bank — of a river
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. track — to keep track
  14. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bank — for money
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. track — a path
  22. key — the most important part
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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