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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. spring — a coil
  3. key — the most important part
  4. game — a match
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. cap — a hat
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. key — for a lock
  9. game — wild animals
  10. cap — of ice
  11. spell — magic
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. spell — letters
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. spell — a short time
  16. spring — of water
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. spring — the season
  19. key — in music
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. cap — a lid

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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