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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. ground — a position
  6. key — the most important part
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. board — a committee
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. ground — the earth
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. ground — crushed
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. board — to get on
  17. key — in music
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rule — government
  24. bark — to shout

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