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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. key — the most important part
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. cue — for pool
  5. bulb — for light
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. present — a gift
  8. cue — a hint
  9. present — the time now
  10. key — in music
  11. bound — obliged
  12. present — there
  13. kid — child
  14. kick — in football
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. cue — a signal
  21. kid — to tease
  22. key — for a lock
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. bulb — of a plant

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